Before even seeing a single frame of this film, the premisealone should draw interest and strange curiosity, leavingpeople wonding, “Just what the hell is this suppose tobe,anyway?” I’m still wondering myself, but I hada blast seeing it.

The premise: Elvis and JFK did not die, and today they’reroommates in an East Texas nursing home whose residents are beingkilled by an ancient Egyptian soul sucker named BubbaHo-Tep. Still there?

Let me elaborate.  Elvis is played by BruceCampbell, most famous for the Evil Dead  seriesdirected by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man).  This film takeswhat  followers loved about the Evil Dead movies andCampbell’s character Ash and places them into another wildlyinventive and surreal film … for the fans. To say otherswon’t admire or enjoy it is ridiculous, but this film wasclearly made from these inspirations.

Early in the film, we learn that Elvis became sick and tired ofhis lifestyle and decided to make a deal with an impersonator andswitch places. He is now over the hill, fat and wornout. He meets a man at a rest home who claims to be JFK(played by Ossie Davis). Upon meeting him, Elvis says,”But Jack … you’re black.” He claims thatLBJ faked his assassination and says, “They dyed me thiscolor.”

Without reason or meaning given, the soul sucker Bubba Ho-Tepshows up and chooses the nursing home residents as itsfeeding ground. Despite Elvis and JFK’sphysical limitations (a stroller and motorized wheelchairrespectively), the duo decide to team up against themonster.

That’s all you really need to know. Leavereality and logic at the door because they won’thelp you here. And if you’ve read thereview this far, then maybe you’re interested enough tocheck it out. Just don’t go sober. Seriouslythough, it’s great, mindless entertainment with offbeathumor, and the production design of the residence home comes offalmost as a character of its own.

Bubba Ho-Tep is from the creators of Army of Darkness andPhantasm director Don Coscarelli and based on a short story by cultauthor Joe R. Lansdale.