Bubba Ho-Tep Reviews

Elvis and JFK meet the Mummy

Elvis is alive and not very well. After switching identities with an Elvis impersonater back in the 70's, he's now living in a nursing home in Texas suffering from a dodgy hip, an uncomfortable growth in his nether regions and mocking laughter whenever he tries to convince anyone that he's really 'The King'. One person does believe his story though, an ageing black man who believes he's JFK. These two men are, along with all the other residents, just existing now; waiting for their time on this earth to come to an end, alone and unloved.

But when the appearance of some giant cockroaches coincides with a number of deaths in the home, JFK suspects this may be the work of a soul-sucking Egyptian Mummuy(or Lyndon B Johnson). Together Elvis and JFK team up to 'take care of business'.

This terrifically original comedy has taken a long time to reach these shores, but it's worth the wait. From the excellent premise, writer/director Don Coscarelli spins a consistently hilarious, and surprisingly deep, tale which is full of surprises.

Bruce Campbell is perfect casting as 'The King', effortlessly managing to make a fully-rounded character out of this 68 year-old Elvis. He's got the voice and mannerisms down to a tee and really seems to be enjoying himself in probably his best performance to date. Ossie Davis gets a number of great lines as a black JFK and these two make an engaging team.

The low budget is often obvious(mostly when the Mummy's on screen) but doesn't detract from the fun, neither does the rather slapdash storytelling.

But what's most surprising about 'Bubba Ho-Tep' is the emotional depth and resonance it achieves. It's really a film about elderly people having one last chance to make a difference and fighting to die with dignity in a world where they are discarded without a second thought. With a number of surprisingly moving moments, it has far more to say than many more 'serious' films manage. 'Bubba Ho-Tep' is a true original and a true delight.

B-Movie Genius

Well what can I say about Bubba Ho-Tep apart from it's a work of genius.

This film is just great. It's a trashy B-Movie with a daft plot about some Mummy sucking the life out of old folks in an old folks home but the acting from Bruce Campbell as The King himself is something to be witnessed.

The jokes are great, the dialogue excellent, the characters are so much fun and you're really routing for the zimma-framed King and wheelchair'd JFK to save the day against the tatty bandaged bad guy.

A perfect slice of movie making at its most fun... watch it and love it.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Great Idea But Loses Its Way

Definitely something different to what I've seen before. The premise that Elvis is alive and living in a sanitorium and takes on an Egyptian demon who is feeding on people's souls is unusual. Unfortunately after a very interesting first half it tails away until the final twenty minutes or so just don't sit with the direction in which the film was going.

The acting from Campbell is great but Ossie Davis takes it to another level. It's a shame that the film loses its way in the latter parts because the first half or so is really drawing you into a story that you've never even imagined before.

Bubba Ho-Hum...

I so wanted to love this film. Bruce 'Evil Dead' Campbell. Ossie Davis (may he Rest In Peace). Don Coscarelli. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately this is hamstrung by its literary origins: it is, in fact, a short story stretched to near breaking point, albeit with sublime turns from Campbell and Davis that just about paper over the cracks. Campbell's taciturn Elvis is the best thing he's ever done and steals the show - though only just - from the late Davis as a black (or 'sprayed') JFK. The premise is wildly inventive (Elvis and JFK together in a hick home for the elderly and infirm) and tinged with a delicious irony: Campbell's 'The King' wished for a taste of anonimity so swapped places with an impersonator... who subsequently kicked the bucket on the loo, leaving old Prezza stuck with the other guy's life. Undoubtedly, this is a sometimes bittersweet tale of growing old before you really want to, and how life - and everybody in it - seems to leave you behind. The humour is as raucous, caustic and near-the-knuckle as you'd expect from a project involving Campbell and Coscarelli (diseased peckers, indeed). But somehow it kind of loses the plot during the final reel and affects all that has gone before. A shame. Worth renting to see low-budget high-concept madness on the small screen, but don't expect anything more than a zany eighty-nine minutes that deperately runs out of puff in the end... much like our hero, Elvis.

No thank you very MUCH!

Fantastic premise - Elvis and JFK vs. a Mummy in a nursing home. But unfortunately that's about as good as it gets.

Don't get me wrong Bruce Campbell is great as Elvis, but the plot and script is dire.

Good support from the nurse and JFK but this film drags. Case in point I've put this film on 3 times over the last 3 nights (9pm) and I've failed to stay awake.

Had this film been given to Sam Raimi I would have been ranting about how I've just seen Evil Dead 4!!

Hail to the king baby!

This is a film you are either going to love or hate...personally I loved it!

It's based on a concept where we have the real Elvis in a nursing home with a gentleman who believs he's JFK (albeit he's the wrong colour...bless him)they discover a mummy who likes to patrol their nursing home sucking out the souls of the elderly...so they plan to team up and take it on!!

Both great perfomances from Bruce and Ossie...a shame it wasn't well received over here, but give it a watch and see what you think..the best critic is yourself :-)

Instant Cult

Bubba Ho-tep is a hilarious funny film with the premise that Elvis is living in a old age pensioners home and Kennedy is now a black man. Elvis and Kennedy try to solve the strange deaths of the local inhabitants.

The film is fresh and funny but it is extremely cult in its delivery. Campbell and Davis give excellent performances. We found the film to be hilarious. Special effects left something to be desired but enjoyable nonetheless.

The King is Alive!

Elvis isn’t dead. He’s actually fighting soul-eating Egyptian mummies in a Texas retirement home, aided and abetted by John F Kennedy. Or, at least, he thinks he is…

That’s the gloriously weird premise of this American independent gem. Managing to be funny, scary, silly and profound, often in the same scene, it’s the oddest ‘feel-good’ movie you’ll see in a while.

Both the leads are great and Bruce Campbell’s spot-on portrayal of an elderly Elvis impersonator (who may or may not actually BE The King) is a career high. To give away much would spoil the film, but suffice to say when our geriatric dynamic duo finally swing into action, it’s hard not to cheer.

Where did this film come from?

This film was fourth in SFX magazine's top 10 films of 2004, (beating the third Lord of the Rings film!) yet nobody seems to have heared of it.

I selected it based on SFX's review and I wasn't disappointed, it was funny and heartwarming and enjoyable and well worth watching.

Elvis, JFK, a mummy and an old people's home

I'd love to have seen them pitch that one to MGM. And I'm very, very glad they did.

An impotent Elvis (Bruce Campbell) lives in an old people's home. His only true friend is an old black guy, Jack, who thinks he's JFK (Ossie Davies) - the ultimate cover-up, he was dyed black by the government.

Suddenly a Mummy shows up, complete with cowboy boots and stetson, and starts devouring the souls of the elderly residents. Who's gonna stop him?

Campbell's rendition of Elvis is outstanding. And the brilliantly self-deprecating dialogue only helps the performance.

I really can't give Bubba Ho-Tep more praise. OK, the special effects don't make your eyeballs pop out of your head. But who cares? The whole movie hangs on the performances of the actors. And it's incredible.