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- Bubba Ho-Tep - US DVD -

Tagline :
"The King of Rock vs. The King of the Dead."

Synopsis :
An elderly 'Elvis Presley' (Bruce Campbell) and a black man who thinks he's 'President 
John F. Kennedy' (Ossie Davis) battle a mummy feeding off of the souls of the elderly 
in the 'Mud Creek Shady Rest Convalesence Home' where they now reside in East Texas. 
'Elvis' had switched identities with an 'Elvis' impersonator, 'Sebastian Haff,' years 
before his "death". 'Sebastian' (as 'Elvis') died before he had a chance to switch back. 
'Jack' (Ossie Davis) claims part of his brain is at the White House, they dyed his skin, 
and 'Lyndon Johnson' is out to kill him but, besides this issue, he's of sound mind. 
'Ho-Tep' is an ancient mummy who was stolen and dumped nearby during an accident. 
These two 20th century legends ('Elvis' and 'Kennedy') fight the ancient legend of 
'Ho-Tep.'
Based on the Bram Stoker Award nominee short story by cult author Joe R. Lansdale. 
Directed and screenplay written by Don Coscarelli, who also created "Phantasm".

Story/plot :
Great story! 
It doesn't get any more unique than this!
It's all well-organized with no holes that I could find.

Atmosphere :
Absolutely perfect! 
The colors, lighting, music, sets, and acting all combine into one great atmosphere. 
This film is all atmosphere.

Cast/characters :
Great acting by everyone in the cast. Every character serves a purpose. Bruce Campbell 
plays 'Elvis Presley'/'Sebastian Haff.' What can I say? 
This role was made for Bruce! 
He got the voice perfect, his appearance does look like an old 'Elvis,' he even walked 
like him in his flashbacks. Bruce plays this as a tired 'Elvis' who's lost his sense of 
purpose in life. That is, until he battles 'Ho-Tep,' which invigorates him. He proves 
his acting skills here!
Ossie Davis plays 'Jack Kennedy,' a black man who thinks he's 'President John F. Kennedy.'
He's great with his gentle, grandfatherly tone and his many conspiracy theories. You 
can't help but like this character!
Reggie Bannister plays the Rest Home Administrator. Small role but it's great to see 
him team up again with Don Coscarelli, with whom he also worked with on "Phantasm".
Daniel Roebuck plays a funny hearse driver along with his partner. They've only a 
few scenes taking bodies out but it sure adds a nice touch that you can't help but 
smile at. Roebuck played in 'Final Destination' (2000) and 'Matlock.'

Cinematography :
Perfect! 
The home is great. It's hallways are dark and sinister with great lighting which 
creates shadows everywhere. The colors of everything are crisp and vibrant. There's 
great outside night scenes as well. There's some special effects with the camera 
that add to the creepiness of the film.

FX, sound, etc. :
Great FX, not over done. The music is great and atmospheric as well. Every song 
sets the tone and feel of each scene.

Final Thoughts :
It's funny, well-acted, heartfelt, and unique. We need more horror like this! 
I recommend this film to everyone. Just be careful with children as Bruce swears 
a bit. I can't wait for the DVD with commentary by Bruce as 'Elvis!!'

DVD Features :
The 'BUBBA HO-TEP' Collector's Edition DVD will include:

• Feature-length audio commentary by Coscarelli and star Bruce Campbell
• Feature-length audio commentary by 'Elvis' (i.e. Bruce)
• Seven minutes of never-before-seen deleted scenes
• A reading by Joe R. Lansdale from his 'Bubba Ho-Tep' short story
• 20-minute making-of documentary
• 'To Make A Mummy:' An inside look at how the filmmakers created the ancient 
creature
• 'To Score a King:' A discussion on the scoring of the music by composer Brian 
Tyler and Coscarelli
• 'Fit for a King:' A behind-the-scenes look at Campbell’s makeup and wardrobe 
• Animated photo gallery featuring behind-the-scenes stills from the film
• Original theatrical trailer
• Easter egg: an alternate trailer by Coscarelli

With a retail price of $27.98, the DVD will also come with limited-edition 
packaging and a behind-the-scenes scrapbook with comments from Campbell and 
Coscarelli.

I'll leave you with a great quote from the movie.

"Ask not what your rest home can do for you; ask what you can do for your rest home."

4 Stars

Reviewed By Wolf By Night

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