There are two types of people in this world: Those who would be interested in watching a film about an elderly Elvis Presley and Black John F. Kennedy defeating an ancient Egyptian mummy, and those who would be incorrect. Luckily for the former, we have the film Bubba Ho-Tep to scratch that eerily specific itch.
The 2002 horror comedy film would almost seem as if it were a fever dream when explained to those who have never heard of it. The concept was adapted by Don Coscarelli, an American screenwriter, as well as the director and producer of the film. Coscarelli had previously worked on the Phantasm series, as well as the 1982 fantasy adventure film, The Beastmaster, and then in 2012 directed the underrated movie John Dies at the End. Teaming up with Coscarelli would be Evil Dead icon Bruce Campbell, as well as the legendary actor and writer Ossie Davis, to perform the two leads.
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Having been 20 years since the initial release of the film, now’s a better time than ever to revisit the contemporary cult classic, as well as take the opportunity to introduce others to the bizarre and otherworldly tale that is Bubba Ho-Tep.
Inspirations and Origins
The original story of the film actually comes from a novella of the same name, released in 1994 as part of the alternative history Elvis-themed anthology The King is Dead, written by Joe R. Lansdale. Coscarelli maintained a healthy amount of faithfulness to the original book, with additions being made to further focus towards themes of aging and obsolescence. While being handled mostly with humor, the film does cover societal criticisms, such as mistreatment of the elderly and infirmed.
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All of these heavy themes are made more absorbable by the lead actors, who make the wise decision to play their characters completely straight (despite everyone in the film treating them condescendingly as loonies). Campbell impresses as a man having reached the twilight of his life, looking back on his own regrets while being tasked with uncovering a mystery surrounding a murderous mummy in his nursing home.
This would be enough on its own; however the actor also must perform the role while doing a nuanced Elvis impression. Across from the King of Rock ’n’ Roll would be Davis, another member of the retirement home, who firmly believes he is former president John F. Kennedy despite being an entirely different race, a casting choice made even funnier by the fact that Ossie Davis is doing no impersonation whatsoever, and is performing with his natural voice.
What is Bubba Ho-Tep About?
Old and alone at Shady Rest Retirement Home lays Sebastian Haff, a man who was once named Elvis Presley, though after growing tired of his fame, switched places with an Elvis impersonator in order to live a more quiet life. While the real Sebastian went on to die in 1977, Elvis lived on in anonymity before being sent into a coma after a deadly propane explosion.
The only friend of Haff would be Jack, who claims to be President John F. Kennedy, explaining that his skin was dyed black after an assassination attempt; he was left in the home by Lyndon Johnson, completely forgotten. The two unlikely heroes find themselves up against a re-animated mummy who was dumped in a nearby river by the retirement home, devouring the souls of the residents and dubbed “Bubba Ho-Tep” by Elvis.
Perhaps one of the most stand-out features of the film is their use of cool, fully practical effects for the main antagonist, the mummy. The production company behind the effects, KNB EFX Group, even agreed to create the makeup and costume for only the price of the materials, as a favor to the director, Coscarelli. The composer Brian Tyler also provides a rustic, guitar-heavy score that sets the perfect mood with soulful rock, the perfect accompaniment for the surprisingly tender and melancholic introspection about getting older that Bubba Ho-Tep manages to sneak in between laughs and scares.
Adam Janeiro’s cinematography compliments the film well, despite the low overall budget for the project. Having worked on previous productions with Coscarelli, Janeiro was able to work with a lot of moody, ambient lighting to provide a genuinely creepy atmosphere to the setting, emphasizing the horror aspects of the story with inventiveness and skill.
Reception and Legacy of Bubba Ho-Tep
Receiving generally high scores from audiences and critics alike, Bubba Ho-Tep has only amassed more of a following as the years have gone by, with many choosing now to look back and celebrate the film for its 20th anniversary. A proposed sequel was placed as a joke at the end of the credits, titled Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires, and while fans have clamored for the film to take fruition, production on the project has yet to officially begin.
Campbell’s depiction of Elvis has appeared in numerous other mediums since the release of the film, in lieu of a direct sequel. The actor has announced he has no further plans of portraying the character, though, as he sees the role as “one shot deal.” Despite fan disappointment, it may be for the best that no continuations of the story be created, to further give the original film more of a sense of mystique. A very creative concept, one that’s nearly as fun to explain to others as it is to sit down and watch, Bubba Ho-Tep will remain a beloved staple in horror comedy for many years to come, and is one that truly can never be left forgotten.
