Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except
Encyclopedia
Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except, given theatrical release in Detroit as Stryker's War, is an American low budget action
/ horror film
, originally released in 1987. The film was written by Josh Becker
and Scott Spiegel
, with a story by Becker, actor Bruce Campbell
, and Sheldon Lettich
. Directed by Becker, the film is fairly obscure, but maintains a small following.
, Sergeant Jack Stryker (portrayed by Brian Schulz), given an honorable discharge due to his injuries, attempts to get his life back together. Finding himself reunited with an old girlfriend, Sally (Cheryl Hausen) and his war buddies, he feels he may have successfully re-established his life. However, this happiness is quickly cut short when a murderous cult led by an enigmatic but unnamed Charles Manson
-like figure, portrayed by director and writer Sam Raimi
, comes into town to continue their rampage.
After Sally is tortured and Stryker and his compatriots find the cult torturing police officers near his house, they arm themselves up and decide to, as the trailer puts it, "break the laws of both God (the title is a reference to one of the Biblical Ten Commandments
) and man" and fight back. What follows is a war between the two groups, ending in numerous deaths, including the cult leader's; the exchange between Raimi and Schulz is as follows:
Upon which Stryker shoots Raimi's character in the chest, and he careens into a river, eventually being impaled on a motorcycle, and their brutal war is ended.
or otherwise involving Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, or Becker.
Actors who have been featured in other productions include Raimi, who, while better known as a director and writer, has also appeared in The Hudsucker Proxy
, Indian Summer
, and Miller's Crossing
, among other films. His brother, Ted Raimi
, also appears briefly, once as Vietnamese soldier who is shot in the head, and once as a cult member nicknamed "Chain Man".
Tim Quill, who plays Tim Tyler, one of Stryker's companions, is a longtime friend of Raimi and Campbell's, and has cameos in some of their work. Co-writer Scott Spiegel appears as a cultist who is killed upon being shoved onto a rack of knives; the character is listed in the credits as "Pin Cushion".
set of The Evil Dead
. The interior sets were primarily Bruce Campbell's garage in suburban Detroit, Michigan
, dressed up as either a military base or Stryker's house. The Vietnam scenes were filmed in Hartland
, though the overhead shots consist solely of stock footage
.
Bruce Campbell also served as assistant sound editor on the film, where he re-used many of the Foley
effects created for The Evil Dead. The film's release was, like The Evil Dead, handled primarily by press agent Irvin Shapiro
. Shapiro suggested the final title, over Becker's objections; this is similar to Shapiro's summary retitling of The Book of the Dead to The Evil Dead.
theatrically in the United States
by Film World Distributors in 1985.
The film was released on VHS
by Starmaker Video in the late 1980s. The film was released on DVD
in the United States
by Anchor Bay Entertainment
in 2002. This version is currently out of print
.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
/ horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, originally released in 1987. The film was written by Josh Becker
Josh Becker
Josh Becker is a writer and director, of films and television, whose credits include episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess and his collaborations with Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi.-Writing:...
and Scott Spiegel
Scott Spiegel
Scott Spiegel is an American screenwriter, film director, producer and actor. He is best known for co-writing the screenplay for the movie Evil Dead II with longtime friend, film director Sam Raimi, with whom he attended Wylie E. Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan...
, with a story by Becker, actor Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
, and Sheldon Lettich
Sheldon Lettich
Sheldon Lettich is a screenwriter, film director and producer.-Early life:He was born in New York City, but moved to California at a young age and grew up in the Los Angeles area. After graduation from high school he spent nearly four years in the U.S...
. Directed by Becker, the film is fairly obscure, but maintains a small following.
Plot
Having come home after half of his squadron was killed during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Sergeant Jack Stryker (portrayed by Brian Schulz), given an honorable discharge due to his injuries, attempts to get his life back together. Finding himself reunited with an old girlfriend, Sally (Cheryl Hausen) and his war buddies, he feels he may have successfully re-established his life. However, this happiness is quickly cut short when a murderous cult led by an enigmatic but unnamed Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
-like figure, portrayed by director and writer Sam Raimi
Sam Raimi
Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...
, comes into town to continue their rampage.
After Sally is tortured and Stryker and his compatriots find the cult torturing police officers near his house, they arm themselves up and decide to, as the trailer puts it, "break the laws of both God (the title is a reference to one of the Biblical Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
) and man" and fight back. What follows is a war between the two groups, ending in numerous deaths, including the cult leader's; the exchange between Raimi and Schulz is as follows:
Cult Leader: "I am Jesus Christ!"
Stryker: "No, you're not — You're dead."
Upon which Stryker shoots Raimi's character in the chest, and he careens into a river, eventually being impaled on a motorcycle, and their brutal war is ended.
Cast
The cast of the film consists largely of unknowns, because most of the smaller roles are filled by Becker's friends and relatives. Some, however, have been featured in other films, largely those produced by Renaissance PicturesRenaissance Pictures
Renaissance Pictures is an American film production company. Founded by director Sam Raimi, producer Rob Tapert and actor Bruce Campbell, with help from publicist Irvin Shapiro, on August 10, 1979, to produce their film The Evil Dead, along with its sequels Evil Dead II and Army of...
or otherwise involving Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, or Becker.
Actors who have been featured in other productions include Raimi, who, while better known as a director and writer, has also appeared in The Hudsucker Proxy
The Hudsucker Proxy
The Hudsucker Proxy is a 1994 screwball comedy film written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Sam Raimi co-wrote the script and served as second unit director....
, Indian Summer
Indian Summer (1993 film)
Indian Summer is a 1993 comedy drama film written and directed by Mike Binder. The movie was filmed and set on-location at Camp Tamakwa, a summer camp located in Ontario, Canada, where Binder himself had attended in his childhood...
, and Miller's Crossing
Miller's Crossing
Miller's Crossing is a 1990 American gangster film by the Coen brothers and starring Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito and John Turturro...
, among other films. His brother, Ted Raimi
Ted Raimi
Theodore "Ted"/"Half Ted" Raimi is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Lieutenant Tim O'Neill in seaQuest DSV and Joxer the Mighty in Xena: Warrior Princess/Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
, also appears briefly, once as Vietnamese soldier who is shot in the head, and once as a cult member nicknamed "Chain Man".
Tim Quill, who plays Tim Tyler, one of Stryker's companions, is a longtime friend of Raimi and Campbell's, and has cameos in some of their work. Co-writer Scott Spiegel appears as a cultist who is killed upon being shoved onto a rack of knives; the character is listed in the credits as "Pin Cushion".
Production
The film was originally produced in 1980 as a Super-8 film entitled Stryker's War, designed to get interest from investors; Campbell and Becker drafted the story ideas while returning home from the TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
set of The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
. The interior sets were primarily Bruce Campbell's garage in suburban Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, dressed up as either a military base or Stryker's house. The Vietnam scenes were filmed in Hartland
Hartland Township, Michigan
Hartland Township is a civil township of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, though the overhead shots consist solely of stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
.
Bruce Campbell also served as assistant sound editor on the film, where he re-used many of the Foley
Foley artist
Foley is the reproduction of everyday sounds for use in filmmaking. These reproduced sounds can be anything from the swishing of clothing and footsteps to squeaky doors and breaking glass. The best foley art is so well integrated into a film that it goes unnoticed by the audience. It helps to...
effects created for The Evil Dead. The film's release was, like The Evil Dead, handled primarily by press agent Irvin Shapiro
Irvin Shapiro
Irvin Shapiro was an American producer, film importer and distributor who was responsible for introducing a number of influential foreign films to the United States, as well as handling the early work of some noted directors....
. Shapiro suggested the final title, over Becker's objections; this is similar to Shapiro's summary retitling of The Book of the Dead to The Evil Dead.
Release
The film was given a limited releaseLimited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
theatrically in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Film World Distributors in 1985.
The film was released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
by Starmaker Video in the late 1980s. The film was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a U.S. based home entertainment and production company and is a division of Starz Media, which is a unit of Starz, LLC. It was previously owned by IDT Entertainment until 2006 when IDT was purchased by Starz Media. Anchor Bay markets and sells feature films, series,...
in 2002. This version is currently out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
.