Blu-ray Review – The Eleventh Commandment

The director of "I Dismember Mama" and "Ape," Paul Leder tries to make something of a statement with 1986's "The Eleventh Commandment." It's a story that doesn't feature a protagonist, tracking two characters engaged in their own levels of evil. One is a ruthless businessman who's not shy when it comes to lying, cheating, and stealing. Murder isn't an issue either. The other personality is a mentally ill man who's channeled his clouded ways into the priesthood, setting out to protect innocence by going on a killing spree. Leder is challenging viewers to take sides with the screenplay, but those who sit down with "The Eleventh Commandment" may start to wonder why the movie isn't more extreme after the first 30 minutes, with Leder settling into a strangely tasteful assessment of bodily harm and sexual gamesmanship. There's a welcome mat laid down for exploitation elements, but the production plays it relatively calm, refusing to indulge wild antics with deranged people, which results in a frustratingly tepid viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com