Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Director:

Don Coscarelli

Writers (WGA):

Joe R. Lansdale (short story)
Don Coscarelli (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 February 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

The King vs. The King of the Dead

Plot:

Elvis and JFK, both alive and in nursing homes, fight for the souls of their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy.

Plot Keywords:

Nursing Home | Elvis Presley | Texas | Elvis Impersonator | Soul

Awards:

9 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Bruce Campbell	...	Elvis Presley / Sebastian Haff
Ossie Davis	...	Jack
Ella Joyce	...	The Nurse
Heidi Marnhout	...	Callie
Bob Ivy	...	Bubba Ho-tep
Edith Jefferson	...	Elderly Woman
Larry Pennell	...	Kemosabe
Reggie Bannister	...	Rest Home Administrator
Daniel Roebuck	...	Hearse Driver
Daniel Schweiger	...	Hearse Driver
Harrison Young	...	Elvis' Roommate
Linda Flammer	...	Room Nurse
Cean Okada	...	Attending Nurse
Solange Morand	...	Iron Lung Lady
Karen Placencia	...	Baby
Bruce Rawitz	...	TV Announcer
Joseph Primero	...	Janitor
Chuck Williams	...	Elvis' Boy
Timothy E. Goodwin	...	Elvis' Boy (as Tim Goodwin)
James Maley	...	Elvis' Boy
Blaine Tyler	...	Elvis' Boy (as 'Two-Gun' Tyler)
Steve Kassel	...	Sebastian's Band, Drums
Damon Carruesco	...	Sebastian's Band, Guitar
Lief Frederick	...	Sebastian's Band, Bass
Danny Crossen	...	Sebastian's Band, Keyboards
Gigi Fast Elk Porter	...	Trailer Park Gal (as Gigi Fast Elk)
Emily Wengel	...	Trailer Park Gal
Naveed Mahboobian	...	Egyptian Guard
Omid Naimi	...	Egyptian Guard
Joseph C. Boulder	...	Lunch Room Folks
Virginia Brown	...	Lunch Room Folks
Celia Gill	...	Lunch Room Folks
Harvey Flammer	...	Lunch Room Folks
Sylvia Flammer	...	Lunch Room Folks
Ruth Hansen	...	Lunch Room Folks
Mary Rose Waken	...	Lunch Room Folks
Natasha Kurtz	...	Vintage Picture Model
Avery Taylor	...	Vintage Picture Model
Nadia Angelini	...	Vintage Picture Model
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gabi Ferrer	...	Fan at concert (uncredited)
Regina Pope	...	Extra (uncredited)
André Sogliuzzo	...	Narrator (uncredited)

Directed by
Don Coscarelli

Writing credits (WGA)
Joe R. Lansdale		(short story)
Don Coscarelli		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dac Coscarelli	....	executive producer
Don Coscarelli	....	producer
Jason R. Savage	....	producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Adam Janeiro

Film Editing by
Scott J. Gill
Donald Milne

Casting by
Jerry Whitworth

Production Design by
Daniel Vecchione

Art Direction by
Justin Zaharczuk

Set Decoration by
Damon Carruesco

Costume Design by
Shelley Kay

Makeup Department
Melanie A. Kay	....	makeup artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Melanie Tooker	....	makeup application: Elvis

Production Management
Rosa Gonzalez	....	unit production manager
Jason Serrato	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rosa Gonzalez	....	first assistant director
Jin Ah Lee	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Paul Cander	....	carpenter
David Gechman	....	illustrations "Book of Souls"
David Hartman	....	illustrator
Carrie Schupper	....	assistant art director
Todd Stauder	....	swing

Sound Department
Thomas Appel	....	assistant sound editor
Paul Bacca	....	sound mixer
John Brasher	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Chominsky	....	adr recording engineer
Mark J. Harris	....	voiceover recordist
Eric Hoeschen	....	foley artist
Marcel Lehrer	....	post sound coordinator
Mike Loving	....	boom operator
Rick McLane	....	sound engineer
Paul Menichini	....	sound designer
Dominik Meyer	....	machine room operator
Stewart Nelson	....	adr supervisor (as Stewart Nelsen)
Paul Ratajczak	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Ratajczak	....	sound supervisor
Trevor Sperry	....	foley mixer
William Tabanou	....	narration editor
Trevor Ward	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Lance Wiseman	....	dialogue editor
Lance Wiseman	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Chad Atkinson	....	mold maker
Howard Berger	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Kamar Bitar	....	special effects coordinator
Connie Cadwell	....	lab technician
Jason Collins	....	special effects makeup
James Hall	....	lab technician
Steve Hartman	....	lab technician
Chiz Hasegawa	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Beth Hathaway	....	lab technician
Robert Kurtzman	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects makeup supervisor (as Greg Nicotero)
Scott Patton	....	sculptor
Brian Rae	....	mold maker
Alan Tuskes	....	mold maker
Alan Tuskes	....	special makeup effects crew

Visual Effects by
Tommy Dorsett	....	scanning and recording
David Hartman	....	visual effects supervisor
Kathleen Hartman	....	title logo design
Nicholas Lund-Ulrich	....	scanning and recording technician
Geoffrey Mark	....	visual effects animator
Dave Matherly	....	visual effects (as David Matherly)
Matt McFarland	....	scanning and recording manager
Santosh Oommen	....	visual effects animator
D. Kerry Prior	....	visual effects creator: bug unit
Michael T. Smith	....	visual effects supervisor
Jonard Soriano	....	CG animator
Peter Alun Thomas	....	scanning and recording technician (as Alun Thomas)

Stunts
John Casino	....	stunts
Eric Chambers	....	stunts
Gary Kent	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sammy Beavers	....	additional cinematographer
Precy C. Betiong	....	first assistant camera (as Prezy C. Betion)
Thomas Bilyeu	....	still photographer
Chris Chomyn	....	additional cinematographer
David F. Clark	....	second assistant camera
Jordan Garretson	....	key grip
Paul Goldhammer	....	second assistant camera
James Goldman	....	dolly grip
Colin Hudson	....	Steadicam operator
Scott Libolt	....	still photographer
Chelsea Low	....	Steadicam operator
Alexandra Lucka	....	second assistant camera
Michael Miller	....	crane operator
D. Kerry Prior	....	additional cinematographer
D. Kerry Prior	....	photographer: second unit
William Sentelik	....	best boy electric (as Bill Sentelik)
Gary Stamford	....	gaffer
Brent Studler	....	rigging gaffer
Brad Wallace	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Joe Ferroni	....	casting associate
Jay Lawson	....	casting associate
Jeffrey M. Paal	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dee Dee Hopkins	....	assistant costume designer
Chloe Kay	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jim Williams	....	color timer (as James Williams)

Music Department
Gary Krause	....	music editor
Daniel Schweiger	....	music supervisor
Jeff Vaughn	....	music engineer

Other crew
Carol Lynn Akiyama	....	legal services
Linda Bastin	....	purchaser
Peter Bierstedt	....	legal services
Lisa Charalambous	....	continuity
Stephen Chin	....	production assistant
Ashley Grimes	....	production assistant
Andy John	....	production assistant
Andrew Johnston	....	production assistant
Ramy Katrib	....	consultant
Jin Ah Lee	....	key set production assistant
Mike Loving	....	production assistant
Gabriel Martinez	....	production assistant
Kathy McHugh	....	script supervisor
Vern Moen	....	production assistant
Paul Nix	....	Elvis' limousine courtesy of
Gigi Fast Elk Porter	....	background coordinator
Christiane Savage	....	senior wrangler
Jeremy Tate	....	production assistant
Guy Thorpe	....	hearse coordinator
Tim Welch	....	consultant: Elvis
Emily Wengel	....	production assistant
Megan Whitener	....	production assistant
Sharon Wrisley	....	production accountant

Thanks
Naython Vane	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Silver Sphere Corporation

Distributors

• Vitagraph Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmswelike (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Magna Pacific (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Miracle Films (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tornado Film (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• WE Productions (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Zootrope Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Dall'Angelo Pictures (2010) (Italy) (DVD)
• Future Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (video)
• Manga Films (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Midget Entertainment (2005) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Silver Sphere Corporation
• WE Productions (2006) (France) (DVD)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special effects makeup)
• Special Effects Services (pyrotechnic effects)
• Bad Weasel Productions (visual effects)
• Title House Digital (opticals)

Other Companies

• Digital Film Tree  final cut pro consultant
• Digital Film Tree  post consulting and integration
• Production Magic Inc.  background coordination
• Silver Sphere Records  score album released by (limited edition)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violent images

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-18 | France:U | Argentina:16 | Germany:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Downey, California, USA

Company:

Silver Sphere Corporation

Trivia:

Most of the movie was shot at an abandoned veterans' hospital outside of Los Angeles. Even the trailer park explosion was done there. They used three hallways of one of the buildings for the interior of the rest home.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The Texas license plate number, AZN-700, of the black Cadillac sedan used by the Memphis Mafia is the same as the red Cadillac convertible driven by Elvis himself.

Quotes:

Elvis:You got Ding Dongs, man?
JFK:I've Ding Dongs, Paydays and a whole *box* of Baby Ruths.
Elvis:Oh, mama.
[JFK opens a dresser drawer filled with goodies]
JFK:So, what'll be? Let's get decadent.
Elvis:[Smiling] I'll have a Baby Ruth.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' (2004) (V)

A Real Shock - It's Good!

I laughed when a friend suggested this movie. "Yeah, right," I answered, eyes rolled up.

"Well," he finally said a few weeks later, "Here, just look at it. Take my copy and bring it back."

"Okay, " I answered, "what do I have to lose? "

Obviously, I was shocked. This has to be one of the all-time surprises I've ever encountered in movie-watching. Who would have thought this film was this good? Talk about "original!" This is about as original and entertaining as they come, and, as I have stated in several other reviews, entertainment is the name of the game....so I have to rank this film right up there with my favorites.

I refuse to detail the story because the more you explain what it's about, the stupider is sounds and the less likely you will give it a shot.

I will say Bruce Campbell does a fabulous job of imitating Elvis Presley. In fact, he is the best I have ever heard, speaking-voice-wise. Ossie Davis is also a hoot as the old black man who thinks he's President John F. Kennedy. See? I can't say more, because it gets worse, story-wise, the more you explain.

Just trust me that if you appreciate dark humor with some horror thrown in, you'll love it. It's a bit sleazy and the language is very rough, so be ready for that. I guess you could say this "is not for all tastes." You have to be a little warped to enjoy this, but most of us are to some degree.

Be also be ready for one of the oddest films you've ever seen.