| Bubba Ho-tep | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Don Coscarelli |
| Screenplay by | Don Coscarelli |
| Based on | Bubba Ho-Tep by Joe R. Lansdale |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Narrated by | André Sogliuzzo |
| Cinematography | Adam Janeiro |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Brian Tyler |
Production company | Silver Sphere Corporation |
| Distributed by | Vitagraph Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Box office | $1.2 million[1] |
Bubba Ho-Tep is a 2002 American comedy horror film written, co-produced and directed by Don Coscarelli. It stars Bruce Campbell as Sebastian Haff, a man residing in a nursing home who claims to be the real Elvis Presley. The film also stars Ossie Davis as Jack, a black man who claims to be John F. "Jack" Kennedy, explaining that he was patched up after the assassination, dyed black, and abandoned.
It is based on the novella of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale, which originally appeared in the anthology The King Is Dead: Tales of Elvis Post-Mortem. Originally the film was "roadshowed" by the director across the country. Only 32 prints were made and circulated around various film festivals, though this garnered critical success, and it went on to win the Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay. By the time it was released on DVD, it had already achieved cult status due to positive reviews, lack of access, and inclusion of Campbell.
While the novella and film revolve around an ancient Egyptian mummy (played by Bob Ivy) terrorizing a retirement home, Bubba Ho-Tep also deals with the deeper theme of aging, identity, mortality, and existentialism. The film also features a cameo by Reggie Bannister from Coscarelli's Phantasm series.