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Bubba Ho Tep Nuart Theatre - W. Los Angeles, CA Friday, October 3, 2003 Finally, Bubba Ho Tep is released in theatres. I saw the Los Angeles premiere back in February (go here to read about it), and ever since then I've been waiting patiently for something to happen with this film. Recently, I spoke to Bruce Campbell about Bubba Ho Tep and its long journey to the big screen. "Bubba Ho Tep is a truly independent film, everything about it is independent. When we went to film festivals we were looking for a distributor, we didn't even have a release date. All these other films that claim to be independent are secretly Hollywood films that already have distributors and release dates, we didn't have any of that. If you see any movie this year, Bubba Ho Tep is the only truly indie movie. It's been turned down by every major distributor, and now it's finally out there, and getting a lot of good reviews." Bubba Ho Tep is an Elvis vs. mummy movie starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Don Coscarelli. Also appearing are Reggie Bannister, Daniel Roebuck, Ella Joyce, Harrison Young, and surprisingly enough, Ossie Davis, who has one of the best lines of the film. According to Bruce, "Certain lines just get imitated on the set, and the crew got a hold of that one. Eventually we were all going around saying, 'That mummy's got his lips wrapped around some elder's arse hole!' But it's also great to have someone like Ossie Davis in this movie because it helps validate it." Without giving too much away, I'll say that this is a story, written by Joe R. Lansdale, about what would happen if Elvis wasn't dead, but really in a nursing home in Texas, along with a black man who thinks he's JFK who's been dyed black. But it doesn't end there. Lurking about the nursing home is an ancient mummy, who feeds off the souls of the elderly by "sucking them out of any major orifice." The action scenes are intense, even for old folks, with JFK zooming around in his electric wheelchair, and Elvis battling a giant scarab beetle armed with a walker, a space heater, and a fork, "You don't really have to train for something like that….what?...I'm not going to tell you how we did it. You'll have to wait for the special features on the DVD like everybody else." (I think that's Bruce's way of telling us to buy the DVD when it comes out). Bruce portrays Elvis and/or Sebastian Haff. Through an amusing flashback, we learn that Elvis was tired of fame and traded places with Sebastian Haff, an Elvis impersonator. Unfortunately, Sebastian died, and we all know the rest. When asked if the Presley family have seen or commented on the film, Bruce says, "Actually, I have no idea. You'd think they'd be pleased. Elvis died in a shameful way; but not in this movie. He's a hero in Bubba Ho Tep. He gets his mojo back. I think they'd be delighted; they should see it." Right now Bubba Ho Tep is playing in select Landmark theatres across the country; hopefully it will go into wide release soon. Hopefully you'll get to see it in theatres, as the DVD is a long ways away, "No question, it will come out….eventually. There are several companies bidding on it. But right now it's in theatres, and I'm glad. I'm relieved to see it doing so well. I hope it continues to do really well and has a long run in theatres before the DVD comes out. All you die hard types need to get out there and see it in the theatre and support it. If you want to be able to see these types of movies in theatres, you have to come out and see them." I highly recommend seeing this with an audience, folks. It's a damn good time. I'd like to thank Bruce Campbell, Ali Johnston, and Lee Christian for making this possible and just helping out in general. -Aine Bruce Campbell tidbits and updates: On Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash, etc: "Go to my website; if it's not on there then it's not true. That's why I have a website. So if you don't see it there, then it's absolutely not real." On the documentary he's been working on: "Right now I'm going through 55 hours of footage…it takes awhile." On Scott Spiegel teaming up with Eli Roth to form Raw Nerve Productions: "I heard about it, and I wish them well." On his upcoming film, The Woods: "I'm old enough now to where I'm playing the lead actress's father. I love it, just being another actor and not having to worry about carrying a movie, it's great." On his new book, Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way: "I finished the first draft, now I've got to get through another one and fix it. It'll be out next year, probably in the summer. I'll be doing another book tour for it, a big one, about 30 cities." On why people think he's mean: "If I was so mean I wouldn't show up in 55 cities just so people can say hi. What is is…I get asked a lot of stupid questions. I guess they just get mad that I didn't like their dumb ass question. I'm also not panning for people's affection; why bother? I'll take sarcastic, but mean, that's just not true." On why he smells so good: "I don't use normal cologne or any of that stuff; I'm not a Brut man. The only thing I can think it would be is lavender. I grow lavender on my property and distill it. I cut my lavender once a year 'cause you harvest it once a year, in January. Here's a bit of trivia: I took my lavender to Steven Seagal's ranch; he grows all sorts of flowers and distills them into scents and oils. But yeah, that's the only thing I can think of that I might smell like." For up to date Bruce info, visit his official site at http://www.bruce-campbell.com Copyright ©2003, myamalgam.com.  All rights reserved.