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Bubba Ho-tep [Collector's Edition]

Actor(s): Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Ella Joyce, Bob Ivy, Heidi Marnhout
Director(s): Don Coscarelli
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Sexual Situations
Movie Release: 2002
DVD Release: 05/25/2004
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 32 mins
Studio: MGM
Total Copies: 2
Genres: Comedy, Black Comedy, Horror Comedy
See Also: Bubba Ho-Tep [Hail to the King Edition]

DVD Synopsis

An ancient evil finds resistance in the most unlikely of places in this oddball comedy horror effort from Phantasm director Don Coscarelli. Resting in the confines of a Mud Creek, TX, nursing home after fading into obscurity following his departure from the limelight, an aging and embittered Elvis (Bruce Campbell) befriends a delusional patient named Jack (Ossie Davis) who claims to be John F. Kennedy. It seems that at the height of his popularity Elvis had switched identities with a convincing double, and, upon the death of the substitute, missed his chance to reclaim his former fame. Despite his anger at never having made a comeback, Elvis finds a new reason to live when Jack tips him off to an evil mummy that is feasting on the souls of hapless nursing home inhabitants. Before long the geriatric duo must muster the strength to fend off the malevolent soul sucker lest they ultimately fall prey to the fearsome Bubba Ho-Tep (Bob Ivy). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Actors

Bruce Campbell - Elvis Presley
Ossie Davis - John "Jack" Fitzgerald Kennedy
Ella Joyce - Massaging Nurse
Bob Ivy - Bubba Ho-Tep
Heidi Marnhout - Callie

Editorial Review of DVD

The King certainly gets the royal treatment on MGM Home Entertainment's feature-packed DVD release of Phantasm director Don Coscarelli's quirky cult hit Bubba Ho-Tep. Lovingly detailing every aspect of production from Coscarelli's initial introduction to author Joe Lansdale's endearingly quirky short story to each jewel on Elvis' (Bruce Campbell) authentic wardrobe, this disc is a must-have for fans of the highly original, genre-splitting feature. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the image is clean and sharp, offering accurate skin tones and an effective color balance that draws out every drab brown and pea-green nuance of the decrepit nursing home in which our heroes abide. Audio is offered in closed-captioned English Dolby Digital 5.1 with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles. It's obvious that the filmmakers took great care in crafting a soundtrack that is rich in atmosphere -- in terms of both music and foley effect -- and this disc is a fantastic showcase for a film with such a lovingly detailed audio scheme. From the shuffling of the ominous scarab beetle to the unearthly sounds of Bubba himself (not to mention Brian Tyler's pitch-perfect score), this is a great disc to fire up the home theater for.

As with the attention given to the presentation of the feature itself, MGM has gone above and beyond the call of duty in offering some truly alluring extra features. From the attention-getting slipcase packaging to the informative ten-page booklet featuring production art and photos, conceptual drawings, and a brief essay by star Campbell, it's obvious just picking the disc up that great care was put into its production. Extra features in the disc begin with a relaxed audio commentary track with Coscarelli and Campbell. Aside from sharing the kind of friendly rapport that immediately warms the viewer to the duo, both offer warm memories of the production, entertaining with amusing anecdotes while offering great insight into how such an unconventional film was made on such a limited budget. An Elvis commentary track (featuring Campbell in character as his onscreen alter ego) shows that a lot has changed in the world of cinema since the days of Clambake, and proves a special treat for fans of the good-humored Evil Dead star. The making-of featurette explores the film from Coscarelli's initial exposure to Lansdale's bizarre story to the director's final day of shooting in his own backyard, with interviews and stunt footage offering great insight into the production. "To Make a Mummy" offers a great look at how KNB made great use of such a limited budget, while "Fit for a King" offers an interview with costumer Butch Polston (whose B&K Enterprises holds original patterns for all of Elvis' jumpsuits), and "Rock Like an Egyptian" finds the director interviewing songwriter Tyler about the process of scoring a film. It's also fun to see Tyler turn the tables on Coscarelli on the subject of film music, with the director's response offering an honest and insightful answer concerning the remarkable impact of music on a film. A large stills gallery offers everything from makeup application photos to candid behind-the-scenes shots, with a theatrical trailer and television spot rounding out this fantastic package. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Brittni H. (venus) from BATON ROUGE, LA wrote on 11/10/2009...

A man lays in a hospital bed in a nursing home. It sounds like the writer of Steel Magnolia's is at it, again.
Imagine your surprise when you notice not only is it Bruce Campbell in the bed, but he's playing the King and complaining about his need for viagra (which is putting it politely). This simply sets the scene for the entire movie, and from the opening credits to the close, you are in for a wacky story line that thumbs it's nose at conventional Hollywood. Who says when an ancient evil awakes you must destroy the Hoover Dam to kill it, or bring to life the Statue of Liberty?
Indeed, that is what is great about this movie. It's earnest, un-ending spirit for making the mummy pay, saving the day, and making you laugh. You cannot go wrong with Classic Campbell, and this was a classic from the moment the first DVD rolled off the assembly line and it's case was clicked shut!

Tom C. (tc) from WALTHAM, MA wrote on 3/23/2008...

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Bruce & Coscarelli together in a film where Elvis & JFK battle a cowboy-hat wearing mummy in a retirement home ... how can you go wrong!

I know the plot seems ludicrous but, trust me, give this film a chance. It is the perfect blend of humor and horror with tongue set firmly in cheek. And it's all played just straight enough that it works.

Jason C. (JJC) from NEWARK, NJ wrote on 12/14/2007...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

When I first heard about "Bubba Ho-Tep", I knew for a fact I would love it. Bruce Campbell playing Elvis, battling a 4,000 year-old mummy in an old age home in East Texas. What's not to love? I mean who wouldn't be curious to watch a film like this. Let's get into it.

Something evil lurks in the wee hours of the morning at an East Texas rest home, killing elderly residents one by one.

Enter Elvis Presley (remarkably played by Bruce Campbell), aka "The King of Rock N Roll", alive and not-so-well in present day. Apparently, Elvis was tired of the fame and had his fill of being an icon, so he switched places with Sebastian Haff (also played by Campbell), the best Elvis impersonator/look-a-like that ever was, sometime back in the early '70s. But Haff, was addicted to drugs more than the King ever was and it is he who dies of an overdose, and Elvis had missed his chance to switch back. So now, the real King is forced to live out Sebastian's life, as an Elvis impersonator. During one of his gigs, the King breaks his hip and falls offstage and winds up in a long coma. When he wakes, he finds himself old and battered in an East Texas rest home.

Elvis notices that something strange is happening at this rest home. It starts when an over-sized beetle attacks the King in his bedroom. The beetle is defeated, because remember, you "never f*** with the King". Enter Elvis' only friend at the home Jack Kennedy (Ossie Davis), a black man who thinks he's J.F.K. Jack has done some research and believes that the killings that are going down are being committed by an ancient mummy (or Ho-Tep) from 4,000 years ago, that somehow found its way in Texas, has recently been awakened and is now sucking the souls out of the elderly. When they encounter the Ho-Tep, they notice that this mummy sports a cowboy hat and boots, Texas redneck (aka "Bubba") wear. So, now our heroes Elvis Presley and J.F.K. decide to fight this soul-sucking mummy (with their wheelchair and walker) and send it back to the hell it came from. Let me stop here.

This movie is brilliant for many reasons. The story itself is so ridiculous and bizarre, that it's pure genius, very witty and clever. I had a great time with this film, lot of laughs. Bruce Campbell gives the best performance of his career here, an Oscar nomination is rightfully deserved. His portrayal of the King is perfect, top-notch and hysterical. Ossie Davis also puts in funny support as 'Jack', the two are great together on-screen. Don Coscarelli (the "Phantasm" series) has done some respectable work here. Being absent from theatrical releases since "Phantasm II" in '88, Coscarelli has finally provided a worthy film that can be added to his "classic list" of films ("Phantasm" and "The Beastmaster"), rather than continuing his recent "crappy list" (that consists of three "Phantasm" sequels and a mountain climbing thriller). He shows some admirable wit with both his screenplay (which was based on a story by Joe R. Lansdale), and his direction. "Bubba Ho-Tep" is a B-Movie by every definition, but I'm glad that they marketed it as a mainstream art-house film.

Highly recommended and so much fun, "Bubba Ho-Tep" is bound to be an instant cult classic, as well as a memorable Elvis film, with a memorable performance.