Bubba Ho-Tep

[Foxbat]

Directed and written by Don Coscarelli
Adapted from a short story by Joe R. Lansdale.
Starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis

Bruce Campbell plays a man who believes he is Elvis Presley. Currently residing in an East Texas rest home for the elderly, ‘Elvis’ needs a zimmer to get around after breaking his hip. He is a man set deep in reflection and whiles away his time in bed analysing the paths his life has taken. This melancholy of his is accentuated by the dehumanising effect that this very depressing rest home has on its inmates - and also exacerbated by the patronising attitudes of the staff towards their patients. Somewhere, his own character is being lost within the peeling wallpaper and rusty radiators of the building - as if it is sucking away his very soul.

Things start to change when he notices the death toll in the home begin to rise. Befriending a man claiming to be JFK, they set out to discover the truth – a 3000 year old Egyptian Mummy that wears cowboy boots and writes graffiti on the toilet walls. He also sucks souls.

Through their investigations, Elvis and JFK uncover more than just this demon, they uncover purpose for themselves. From almost empty shells, passing each day in their beds, they rediscover the need to do something – to become what they once were – to fight for what they believe to be right.

It’s an age old story – just like the old gunfighter in a western as he opens the drawer and unwraps his six-shooters for one last battle – so Elvis dons his finest sequined suit in preparation for his fight against Evil.

This is a fine film – sometimes funny, sometimes poignant. Campbell does a great job of giving us a glimpse of how ‘The King’ might have looked had his life not been cut short by his penchant for Cheeseburgers. All in all, a good night’s entertainment.

The picture quality is good at 1.85 Anamorphic, with a good balance of Dolby 5.1 sound.
Out now on Region 1 DVD.

[ravenus]

Have you heard the commentaries on it? I am in particular interested in the group commentary with Coscarelli and Campbell.
Also how's the scarpbook thingy that you get with the DVD?

[Foxbat]

As for the scrapbook - it's not much more than a glorified insert - but it has a few interesting pictures and a 'letter from Bruce Campbell’ – which tells how he came to be involved with this movie. It’s printed on paper coloured to look something like papyrus…..and that’s about it.

I haven't had a chance to go over the commentaries yet but I will as soon as I get the time (busy processing some underwater footage on to DVD for a friend right now).