Bubba Ho-Tep
Summary
The life and career ofElvis Presleyhave been the subject of many movies and TV shows, but theres one horror comedy starringBruce Campbellthat gave a twist to the kings story.
Many music icons have had their lives and careers portrayed in various forms of media, whether due to their great success, the tragedies they went through, or their many achievements.
Among them is the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, whose story has fascinated fans and artists alike, getting different interpretations over the years.
Some of the most recent and successful takes on the life of Elvis Presley are Baz LuhrmannsElvis, starring Austin Butler, and Sofia CoppolasPriscilla, with Jacob Elordi as the king, though in a story centered on his wife.
Mostmovies about Elvis Presleyhave focused on his rise as a music icon, his acting career, and his downfall, but some have opted to give a twist to his well-known story and leave facts aside.
Such is the case forBubba Ho-Tep, a horror comedy starring Bruce Campbell as Elvis Presley which is unlike any other Elvis movie, and for the better.
Custom image by Milica Djordjevic.
The infamous King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley acted in over 30 Hollywood films throughout his career - here they are ranked here worst to best.
Bubba Ho-Tep Is A Different Take On Elvis Presley
Bubba Ho-Tep Is Not Your Typical Elvis Movie
Bubba Ho-Tepfollows Sebastian Haff, a man living in a retirement home in East Texas who claims to be the real Elvis Presley… because he is.
Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, and based on the novella of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale,Bubba Ho-Tepwas released in 2002.Bubba Ho-Tepfollows Sebastian Haff (Bruce Campbell), a man living in a retirement home in East Texas who claims to be the real Elvis Presley… because he is.
Bubba Ho-tep presents an imaginative tale involving an elderly Elvis Presley, living in an East Texas rest home after switching identities with an impersonator. Alongside a companion claiming to be John F. Kennedy, he battles an ancient Egyptian mummy threatening the residents' souls.
Tired of the price of fame,Elvis switched places with Elvis impersonator Sebastian Haff, who was the one who died in 1977, whilethe real Elvis continued living a quiet, peaceful, happy lifeas Sebastian Haff.
When a stolen ancient Egyptian mummy resurrects, it dresses as a cowboy and feeds on the souls of the homes residents.
In the present,his only friend is a fellow resident named Jack (Ossie Davis), a Black man who claims to be John F. Kennedyand that, after his assassination attempt, he had his skin dyed black and was abandoned by Lyndon Johnson in a nursing home.
When a stolen ancient Egyptian mummy resurrects after the thieves bus veers into a river near the retirement home, it dresses as a cowboy and feeds on the souls of the homes residents.Elvis and Jack team up to destroy the mummyand release the souls of their fellow residents.
Bubba Ho-Tepgives an unexpected and fun twist to Elvis story and gives him a completely new narrative instead of retelling what everyone now knows that happened to him.
In addition to that,Bubba Ho-Tepdoesnt feature any music by Elvis Presley, which helps separate his career from his personal life, more so as he was given a much quieter life in this story (at least at first).
Bubba Ho-Tep Is An Underrated Horror Comedy
Bubba Ho-Tep Didnt Get The Attention It Deserved
Campbell brings both drama in Elvis inner conflicts and memories and regrets of the past and comedy in his fight against the mummy.
Bubba Ho-Teps changes to Elvis and JFKs stories might be controversial to some, but its actually one of the funniest, most entertaining horror comedies of the 2000s, but also one of the most underrated ones.Bubba Ho-Tepcould have easily gone wrong by taking its reinterpretation and comedy too far and disrespecting Elvis Presley, butCampbells performance is one of the biggest strengths of the movie.
Campbell brings both drama in Elvis inner conflicts and memories and regrets of the past and comedy in his fight against the mummy, which balances this version of the king.
Bubba Ho-Tepgave one final adventure and mission to Elvis and JFK and, although they dont have happy endings, the movie definitely gives them much better (and heroic) endings than what happened to them in real life.
Of course, there are also the horror elements inBubba Ho-Tepthat go beyond the mummy and how it fed on the residents of the retirement home, asthere are also the horrors that Jack went through(whether he really was JFK or not) and the inner demons Elvis had dealt with for decades.
How Bubba Ho-Tep Became A Cult Classic
Bubba Ho-Tep Eventually Found Its Audience
Bubba Ho-Tepwas roadshowed by Coscarelli across the country, and only 32 prints were made to circulate the movie around film festivals.
Despite its good reviews,Bubba Ho-Tepisnt as known and popular as many other Elvis movies.Bubba Ho-Tepwas roadshowed by Coscarelli across the country, and only 32 prints were made to circulate the movie around film festivals, where it was met with critical acclaim.Bubba Ho-Tepwon the Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay in 2003, and the positive reviews, word-of-mouth, Campbells involvement, and lack of access to it gaveBubba Ho-Tepcult status before it was finally released on DVD.
Bubba Ho-Tepdeserves its cult classic status, but it also deserves wider attention as its not only one of Bruce Campbells best performances and most entertaining movies, but also one of the most original and funElvis Presleymovies that doesnt capitalize on his tragedies nor relies on his music.
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Bubba Ho-tep presents an imaginative tale involving an elderly Elvis Presley, living in an East Texas rest home after switching identities with an impersonator.
Alongside a companion claiming to be John F. Kennedy, he battles an ancient Egyptian mummy threatening the residents' souls.
