Already a Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) convert I remember my happiness when the film was added to the all night Halloween horror night at the old Odeon cinema in Glasgow a few years back. About 40 minutes into the film a dear young lady decided that she would take film criticism into the realm of the playground and bellow “where is the horror”? It was apparent where the horror was… it was etched across my face! Did she not appreciate that we were witnessing the true story of what became of our heroes? Anyway…
Directed by Don Coscarelli (of Phantasm fame), Bruce Campbell flawlessly depicts Elvis, or Sebastian Huff - the name of the man who swapped identities to become the King, bound to a nursing home in Texas suffering from various ailments and counting the time until he meets his maker (did God make Elvis or did Elvis make God???).
Directed by Don Coscarelli (of Phantasm fame), Bruce Campbell flawlessly depicts Elvis, or Sebastian Huff - the name of the man who swapped identities to become the King, bound to a nursing home in Texas suffering from various ailments and counting the time until he meets his maker (did God make Elvis or did Elvis make God???).
Ask not what your rest home can do for you. Ask what you can do for your rest home.
Alongside Campbell is Ossie Davis as Jack, aka JFK, one problem… his skin colour. We remember JFK as the great white hope huh? Well as the victim of a conspiracy he has been the victim of a skin dying. These two characters form the most (un)likely of tag-teams to take on the might of an ancient Egyptian mummy who has been terrorising their fellow patients. Not for the first time in history it falls to the hands of JFK and Elvis to save the world (of the Shady Rest Convalescence Centre in Mud Creek). The price of failure..? The removal of ones soul from a lower orifice. What is worth fighting for more than your soul?
Some of the highlights include the exchanges between Huff and his long suffering carer, the battle between our protagonists and a huge cockroach, and the sense of purpose you share with Jack and Sebastian as they feel reason again, something missing from their lives for some time. Huff asks the question we would all ask Jack Kennedy given the opportunity which leads to the exchange
Some of the highlights include the exchanges between Huff and his long suffering carer, the battle between our protagonists and a huge cockroach, and the sense of purpose you share with Jack and Sebastian as they feel reason again, something missing from their lives for some time. Huff asks the question we would all ask Jack Kennedy given the opportunity which leads to the exchange
Elvis: Come on, Marilyn Monroe? How was she in the sack?
JFK: That is classified information! Top Secret! But between you and me... Wow!
As stated before Campbell is excellent as Elvis; he gets the look, the accent and the mannerisms perfect. My favourite depiction of the King. He longs for the fame he willingly gave up but also reminisces for contact with his family. We can accept the ending because we get the feeling early on that both characters would happily give up there current existence for one more shot at the big time. One more opportunity to prove their worth.
The film is actually a moving depiction of loss, regret and friendship which is given true quality through the depictions offered by the two main performers. Do we believe the two old men’s stories about their identity, think about it, it really does not matter. The film works on both levels. I can’t recommend this enough but I won’t hide the scorn on my face if you return to ask me “where is the horror”?
Don't make me use my stuff on ya, baby!
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