Bubba Ho-tep (2005) - User Reviews

Well, how to sum up this movie. It certainly is an oddity. Based on a short story apparantly by Joe Lansdale which in itself has a bit of a cult following, it tells the story of the aging Elvis Presley, alive and decrepid and living out his final days in a Texas resthome after trading fame and glory with an Elvis impersonator who later croaks bringing the Kings reign to an official end.

Elvis decides to take out the trash when a soul sucking mummy starts offing the residents one by one.

First off just know that this movie, by all accounts, was made for around $500,000. Yes thats right, Half a million dollars. The only thing that shows this fact are the effects which, truth be told, are a bit on the sad side although thankfully there aren't that many. They sort of have that "done for free by a mate in the industry" kind of look and feel about them although Bubba Hotep himself looks cool if a bit cheap.

Aside from the central premise, Elvis alive and in a rest home, the rest of the story is really a non-entity and very basic almost to the point of pointlessness.

That's all totally irrelevant though beside the one factor that makes this movie and will likely be the sole reason it gets any success outside of cult circles and thats Bruce Campbells performance as Elvis. He basically steals, no OWNS the show. His meaningful narratives about the regrets and dissapointments throughout his life, the delivery of his best known quotes, his top notch voicework and just general all round effort portraying the King in his doddering years is bang on the nail and if there was any justice in this world Mr Campbell would bag himself an award or two for the sheer class he put into the role.

The other actors were mainly of the "filler" variety although there was a good performance from Ossie Davis as a resident who thinks he's JFK and Coscarelli regular Reggie Bannister crops up in a minor role.

This movie didn't really need the horror elements though as they only served to drag the whole thing down although done with a bigger budget they might have worked better but there were time when those parts just felt like they got in the way.

On the whole though Bruce Campbell gives plenty enough to the whole thing to not only make it worth your while but to also make it hugely enjoyable and watchable...

Not a great movie but definately has some great things in it.

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