The Eleventh Commandment

The Eleventh Commandment arrives with the kind of premise that promises pulpy thrills, and the film delivers them with a crooked grin. It is a tale of greed, inheritance, and unhinged ambition, all wrapped in the cozy trappings of a family drama that quickly mutates into something far stranger. The movie moves with a mix of camp and menace that keeps it lively even when the plot takes its more predictable turns.

The Blu Ray transfer gives the film a welcome boost. Colors look richer, shadows hold more detail, and the image has a clarity that brings out the oddball production design and the actors’ wonderfully exaggerated expressions. Grain remains present in a natural way, preserving the texture of the original photography without making the picture feel murky. It is the kind of upgrade that lets the movie’s personality shine through.

The Blu Ray artwork leans into the film’s lurid charm. Bold colors, dramatic poses, and a slightly mischievous tone capture exactly what viewers can expect. It is the sort of packaging that would have popped off a video‑store shelf, promising a wicked good time.

And then there is the brief cameo by Vincent Price. He appears only for a moment, but his presence is unmistakable. That voice, that sly delivery, that sense that he knows more than anyone else in the room. It is a tiny spark of classic horror royalty that adds a delightful jolt to the film, like a wink from a master reminding you how much fun a little villainy can be.

The Eleventh Commandment (1986), directed by Paul Leder (1926–1996), is a wild, low-budget fever dream that mashes up soapy family intrigue with a surprisingly high body count. The entire cast leans into the over-the-top tone, but Bernard White and young Lauren Woodland (as cousins Robert and Deborah) absolutely steal the show—White's gentle-yet-unstable "priest-avenger" and Woodland's wide-eyed innocence create a strangely touching dynamic amid the mayhem.

This is a true sleeper in the Vinegar Syndrome catalog, one that will reward adventurous viewers willing to embrace its eccentric blend of melodrama, sleaze, and sporadic slashing. Bonus points for spotting James Avery in a small role early in his career!

Here's hoping VS keeps the Paul Leder revival going with more of his underseen gems:

-The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley (1995) starring Karen Black and Hyapatia Lee

-The Education of Allison Tate (1986) with Bernard White

-Twenty Dollar Star (1990) with Bernard White

-Frame Up (1991) and Frame Up 2: The Cover-Up (1992) with Wings Hauser

-The Baby Doll Murders (1993) with Jeff Kober

-Molly & Gina (1994) with Elizabeth Berkley

-Killing Obsession (1994) with Hyapatia Lee

Solid recommendation for fans of 80s exploitation oddities—go in with low expectations and you might just come out pleasantly surprised!

Vinegar Syndrome's The Eleventh Commandment arrives on disc with a limited edition slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr. ) The director of "I Dismember Mama" and "Ape," Paul Leder tries to make something of a statement with 1986's "The Eleventh Commandment. ", A seedy and perverse slasher-soap opera !

I'm so sorry, Vinegar Syndrome. I really wanted to like this one. My friend even tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen. It had nothing to do with the special features or the film transfer - I know you did your best. It was just not a good movie for me. It dragged, none of the characters were particularly sympathetic, and it was about as tense as a wet noodle. A cold, wet, sad noodle that someone forgot about, as they should this film.

A young man driven to insanity by his corrupt uncle breaks out of a mental hospital, and proceeds to kill his way through in order to save his 9-year-old cousin from her corrupt family and avenge his father's killing. This is an underwhelming horror that fails to have any surprise elements in it & not something I would revisit anytime soon.

5/10