Don Coscarelli is literally one of the (pun alert) Don’s of cult movies. He has brought some wickedly great horror comedy to our screens with the creepy Phantasm series, the latest John Dies At The End movie and this epic Bubba Ho-Tep. Now, team up Coscarelli with a living horror movie legend that is Bruce Campbell (of original Evil Dead fame, see how I am trying to make it relevant to you cinema youngsters) and you sure have one feast of imagination to sink your zombie teeth into.
Bubba Ho-Tep is set in a sleepy Shady Rest retirement home. Campbell plays The King, Elvis Presley who switched lives with impersonator Sebastian Haff and lost all record of the deal. Living the rest of his existence, washed up and alone in a retirement home. Soon spooky goings on start to happen; cat sized bugs appearing in the walls and people are dying, well, suspiciously for a change. It is up to “The King” and President John F Kennedy who has been kidnapped and dyed black (played by Ossie Davis,) to save the retirement from an undead mummy who wants to claim their souls.
Bubba Ho-Tep is really a cult film from moment of conception. The idea, the casting and the making of the movie already make it legendary on movie lovers tongues. Coscarelli road shadowed the film, making it hard for people to see in mainstream cinemas and only 32 prints were ever made, (yes, I meant that said in a spooky ghost voice.) But it is now freely available on DVD and I suggest you go grab a copy and watch it in all its glory. Because if we are looking at underrated genius then Bubba Ho-Tep presents to you the greats; Coscarelli and Campbell.
TTFN,
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