(2002)

review by:

1-23-04

Written and Directed by: Don Coscarelli Original Story by: Joe R. Landsdale Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis

Elvis (Campbell) did NOT die, but due to the boredom of fame switched places with an impersonator (who ended up having a heart attack on the toilet). Now he is rotting away of old age along with his best pal John F. Kennedy (Davis). When a few unusual deaths occur at their resting home, both begin to suspect something. It appears that a stolen mummy, with a cowboy hat and boots, comes back from the dead to suck the souls of the elderly and now it's up to the former president and The King to take him down. First of all, if anyone reading this is a Bruce Campbell fan, and have not heard of this movie, go out and get it RIGHT NOW! His performance along with Ossie Davis is some of the best Indie acting I have ever seen. The two of them play off each other's performances really well. The thing that really pushes the movie is the acting, and these guys look like pros. Campbell's monologues as Elvis are something to be remembered. They are told from his point of view and have a lot of narration from Campbell, which works great. Anytime his mind starts talking is a time to laugh. Usually directors get narration movies all wrong and it turns into a boring drama and how one dude "felt" about everything. My favorite shot in this movie is towards the end when JFK and Elvis are coming down the hall. Both are in their former life's attire but Elvis has a walker and JFK has a wheelchair. This was beautiful and I had to point it out because I was laughing pretty hard. One thing that bothered me was when Elvis fights this giant scarab. I'm sorry to say this because the scene is entertaining, but you can't have a scarab in your movie without people thinking of The Mummy. So you're going to have people compare, and unless yours looks cooler (which it doesn't), don't have it in your movie. All in all this movie was good, but not quite an "Awesome." But I'd recommend it anyone. For a low budget indie film I think this is one of my favorites.

Rating