Thou Shalt Not Kill EXCEPT
(aka Stryker's War)
(1985)
by Billion$Baby

Well, despite those low marks, I really do enjoy watching this film and dvd but be warned, only because I'm an Evil Dead and Raimi/Campbell fan. If you don't enjoy those, then you almost certainly won't enjoy this 16mm movie!

The original movie short "Stryker's War" ('80) starred Sam Raimi alongside Bruce Campbell. Alas, this full length version doesn't star Bruce but we do get to see Raimi delivering a great over-the-top performance as a Charlie Manson type villain. Raimi is a lot of fun in this movie. Ted Raimi is also here, as is Tim Quill from Army of Darkness together with the Evil Dead clock and oldsmobile!

The film is directed by Josh Becker (Evil Dead cinematographer), whose more recent feature Running Time, impressed me a great deal. TSNK...E is also written by Becker with Scott Spiegel (co-writer of Evil Dead II). It's score is written by Joseph LoDuca, the ED composer. Oh, and costume arrangements, sound effects and a voice-only role are by Bruce Campbell! How many more Evil Dead connections could you fit in a non-ED movie?!

Tim Quill and Sam Raimi steal the movie with their performances. By contrast, the Campbell replacement Brian Schulz isn't too good. You can't help but wish that Campbell had also starred in this feature instead. Having said that, the film is still a lot of fun, and it certainly does make me want to see those early Raimi/Becker/Spiegel film shorts even more.
The most appropriate descriptive words for this movie would be "low-budget" and "B-movie", but don't let that stop you. It's still thoroughly entertaining to any Raimi, Spiegel or Becker fans, and it does feature some very funny moments.

Well, Sam and Tim may steal the film with their performances but what about the disc itself?

It features mono sound, a somewhat grainy picture (to be expected), one deleted scene, a trailer and an alternative title sequence, but Anchor Bay have a trump card hidden up their sleeve. The disc also contains a fantastic commentary track by Josh Becker and Bruce Campbell. This commentary is very entertaining, and proves once more that Bruce Campbell is the king of the commentary track. He never fails to entertain.

It's fascinating to hear Becker and Campbell discussing the film-making process, and they have many amusing anecdotes to share. In fact, this disc is worth buying for the commentary alone, never mind Raimi's great OTT performance! This track will certainly make you appreciate the film more.

It is a pity that the original "Stryker's War" short couldn't have been included as an extra. It would have been great to compare it with the later feature, and pretty cool to witness Raimi and Campbell acting alongside each other. However after my recent disappointment on the lack of the Within The Woods short on the new Anchor Bay Evil Dead disc, it's hardly surprising.

So here's the deal. If you're an Evil Dead fan, buy without fear as you will love the film together with the dvd's commentary. If you're not an ED fan then it's a case of caveat emptor, or buyer beware - you'll probably hate it! Simple as that really.

P.S. I loved it!