Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except
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Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except | |
---|---|
Directed by | Josh Becker |
Screenplay by | Josh Becker Scott Spiegel |
Story by | Josh Becker Bruce Campbell Sheldon Lettich Sam Raimi |
Produced by | Shirley Becker Scott Spiegel Sam Raimi |
Starring | Robert Rickman John Manfredi Timothy Patrick Quill Sam Raimi Ted Raimi |
Cinematography | Josh Becker |
Edited by | Josh Becker |
Music by | Joseph LoDuca |
Production companies | Action Pictures Renaissance Pictures |
Distributed by | Film World Distributors (US) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 84 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $200,000 |
Thou Shalt Not Kill ... Except, also known as Stryker's War, is a 1985 American action horror film directed by Josh Becker and starring Robert Rickman, John Manfredi, Tim Quill, Cheryl Hausen, Perry Mallette and Sam Raimi. It was written by Becker and Scott Spiegel from a story by Becker, actor Bruce Campbell, and Sheldon Lettich.[citation needed]
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 Pictures or otherwise involving Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell or Josh Becker.[citation needed]
The film held its premiere in
Plot
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Having come home after half of his squadron was killed during the
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
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
Stryker's group
- Brian Schulz as Sergeant Jack Stryker
- Robert Rickman as Sgt. Walker J. Jackson
- John Manfredi as 2nd Lt. David Miller
- Tim Quill as Lt. Cpt. Tim Tyler
- Cheryl Hausen as Sally
- Perry Mallette as Otis
- Pam Lewis as Mom
- Jim Griffen as Dad
Cult Members
- Sam Raimi as cult leader
- Connie Craig as bald cult girl
- Ivitch Fraser as young cult girl
- Terry-Lynn Brumfield as sleazy cult girl
- Ted Raimi as Chain Man
- Kirk Haas as the Stabber
- Al Johnston as big biker
- Chuck Morris as puke biker
- Scott Mitchell as Mad Hatter
- Scott Spiegel as Pincushion
- Glenn Barr as Archer
- Marek Pacholec as Bat Man
Others/Uncredited
- David Kelly
- Gary Jones
- Josh Becker as hood crushed under the car/shot cult leader (uncredited)
- Bruce Campbell as video newscaster (uncredited)
- Don Campbell as Marine (uncredited)
Production
Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except was originally produced in 1980 as a
Bruce Campbell also served as assistant sound editor on the film, where he re-used many of the
Release
Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except was given a
The film was released on VHS by Starmaker Video in the late 1980s. It was later released on DVD in the United States by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 2002.[3] This version is currently out of print. On April 10, 2012 Synapse released a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of the film containing a new transfer and extras.
Legacy
Following
A small but devoted cult following has arisen around this film. Josh Becker's website is notable for comments of some fans of the film, who hail it as one of the great works in American filmography. Some groups have even devoted significant new artwork to the film, including reimaging the soundtrack, re-editing the film and other "tributes". One of the best known fans group, based in Stockton, California, have commemorated the film through communal art projects, featuring extravagant parties to debut their creations; a tradition that has now lasted over 15 years.
In popular culture
The dialogue between Stryker and the cult leader - where the latter declares: "I am Jesus Christ", and Stryker retorts: "No you're not...you're dead" - is sampled at the beginning of the Entombed song Out of Hand, from the album Wolverine Blues.
References
- ^ "Release Info for Thous Shalt Not Kill...Except". imdb.com. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Company Credits for Thous Shalt Not Kill...Except". imdb.com. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except". dvdempire.com. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ Sweeney, Sean (May 25, 2018). "10 VETSPLOITATION MOVIES TO WATCH OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND". LA Weekly. Semanal Media LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ "Vetsploitation. List by Jarrett". Letterboxd. 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Jeremy (June 10, 2020). "Vietnam War movies, ranked. 11. "Rolling Thunder"". Yardbarker. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
Vetsploitation was a viable Hollywood genre in the late '70s and throughout much of the '80s. "First Blood," "The Exterminator," "Thou Shalt Not Kill… Except"… even "Taxi Driver" to a degree.
- ^ "Category. Vetsploitation. From The Grindhouse Cinema Database". The Grindhouse Cinema Database. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
External links
- Stryker's War at IMDb
- Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except at Rotten Tomatoes
- Becker, Josh. Campbell, Bruce: Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except DVD audio commentary.