Like others here, when I was told about this movie - it sounded too weird to even fathom spending a minute on. But all said it was SO good. Finally I broke down and got a cheap DVD of it. And I've been eating my hat ever since! As offbeat and 'out there' as it is, it brings to light possibilities well beyond our dreams. And/or, even if our dreams are our actual lives - can there be contentment in insanity? Elvis trading his life for that of a spot on impersonator so he could be a little more free and with the people may not be too far fetched. And that it was the impersonator who died in 1977 at Graceland, leaving the 'real' Elvis to be Sebastian Haff as an aging impersonator in east Texas. After breaking his hip in a roadside performance one night, Elvis becomes involuntarily interred at an old age home. Keeping to himself, and not getting too friendly with the other clientele - who range from a kleptomaniac old woman, a man who thinks he's the Lone Ranger, his dying war hero room mate, to a black man who believes he's JFK kept alive after the Dallas shooting to keep the truth hidden. (Ossie Davis) But as strange bugs, and a ghostly figure start appearing at the home, and tenants seem to be dying in quicker succession, Elvis teams up with JFK to research the clues and tackle the situation as best they can. Not sure if it was inspirational, but reminded me a lot of Samuel Fuller's 'Shock Corridor' in the first part. Some humorous moments and lines that I was still uncomfortable to laugh at. As the characters all take their roles seriously, as crazy or not as they maybe. Yet its such a fun movie when the suspense and horror elements come in, its kinda a 'free pass' to loosen up a bit. As for the 'horror' aspect - yes, there's a scary figure and bugs that appear. But nothing too traumatic or gross to scare audiences away. But enough to make one grip their arm rest. All in all, its an inventive story well shot on a meagre budget, and is not disrespectful to Elvis, JFK, or seniors or health care workers at all. Its horror aspect is also well woven in and balances out the story nicely. Whether one believes he's 'really' Elvis, or JFK could be changed into a black man and sequestered in Texas - the point quickly becomes moot. As these are just people wanting to do whats right, and feel they have some dignity at the end of the day. A definite MUST SEE!
Review of Bubba Ho-Tep
