Bubba Ho-Tep Review

I know and love the movie, but I was always curious about the original story.
Last Christmas I received a copy (along with the prequel) and knew immediately that I wanted it to be one of my Halloween reviews this year.
So, is it all I hoped for or not?
Let’s dive in and find out together, gang.

This is your fancy pants ***SPOILER ALERT***

The movie pretty much adapted this one to one.
Sebastian Haff, an Elvis impersonator who claims to be the real deal, is bed ridden in an East Texas nursing home.
When a mummy starts sucking souls out of the elderly residents killing them, Sebastian/Elvis finally has a reason to live again.
Enlisting a black man who claims to be JFK with a skin dye job, they set out to hunt down this Bubba Ho-Tep and save their home.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie that so closely adapts the source material.
It’s pretty goddamn impressive.
I think the movie tweaked and added a few small things, but it’s basically the same exact story to the point that I feel like I’m just retreading our commentary.

Honestly, the only thing I can think to talk about is Joe Lansdale’s odd faux folksy but overly harsh sex talk.
Some of that in the movie and it’s weird, but seeing it in print is pretty jarring.
Because when you think about it for more than two seconds, it’s just so fuckin’ grotesquely over the top that it adds a weird, dare I saw it, charm?
It’s hard to wrap my head around that notion, but here we are, gang, let’s wallow in it for a minute.

Overall, if you like the movie, you definitely like this short story.
If you hate the movie I can’t see a path for you to like this story.
I apologize for this being such a short review, but it’s just as easy to say just go listen to our Bubba Ho-Tep ep of The Nerd Blitz Commentaries.

Let us know what you think of this review in the comments below or share this post on Twitter with the Hashtag #TNBBookReview, or tweet with us @NerdBlitzPod.

Be sure to support the site and all we do by checking out our books!
The Camping Trip And Other Stories and Doomed: The Collected Essays And Reviews Volume 1 are both avaliable in Ebook and Trade Paperback!

Hungry for more of that great Nerd Blitz content, head over to Patreon.com/NerdBlitzPod and join at the $5 level to get instant access to numerous Podcasts, Reviews, Audio Dramas, and so much more!

And finally, given the state of the world, do what you can to leave it a little bit better than you found it.
As difficult as that may be currently, it can have an impact far greater than you know.
Until next time, stay safe out there, gang.

Join the discussion