The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 8, 2020

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.

Trapped in a psychiatric hospital, young priest Robert (Bernard White) rages against his Uncle Charles (Dick Sargent), a man who’s delighted in destroying his life, trying to keep him out of the picture. Accepting that the only purity in Charles’s home belongs to his 9-year-old cousin, Deborah (Lauren Woodland), Robert stages a breakout, escaping from the facility and entering the greater Los Angeles area. Taking Deborah from her ballet class, Robert tries to give the child an amazing day of adventure, desperate to keep her away from her family. However, Robert is also leaving a trail of bodies behind, stabbing those trying to stop him. Uncle Charles is aware of Robert’s escape, but he has other plans, trying to wrestle control of a business away from Deborah’s mother, Joanne (Marilyn Hassett), who’s using her sexuality to claim power.

Robert is in a bad place, both mentally and physically, when he meet him in “The Eleventh Commandment.” He’s being tormented by the hospital staff, including an elderly nurse who does arm curls while on the phone to keep up with the demands of violent patients. Robert is subjected to shock treatment as well, but his faith somehow seems him through, with Godly leadership allowing him to concoct an escape plan that has him stabbing staff to locate safety. Robert’s fondness for plunging knives into stomachs is a common sight in “The Eleventh Hour,” with Leder possibly saving money by keeping wounds out of view. While Robert reenters society, the screenplay also deals with Uncle Charlie, who’s searching for a way to close some type of business deal, locking horns with Joanne, who prefers to sleep with rivals, not intimidate them. Uncle Charlie is a bad man, and he has no time for Robert, hiring a disgraced cop to gun down the newly freed lunatic before he makes his way to his mansion to ruin everything.

Leder doesn’t have much patience for plot in “The Eleventh Commandment.” He’s more interested in character, spending time with Robert as he struggles with his boiling brain, trying to remain a good Christian while taking lives. He’s also tempted along the way, dealing with a motel manager/prostitute (Jennifer Rhodes) who’s happy to sex up her new customer, and when that doesn’t occur, she switches to blackmail. Uncle Charlie is locked into his financial realm, keeping his eyes on the monetary prize while trying to shoo away Joanne, who’s also on the prowl for some type of payday. Even the cop on Robert’s trail has a bit of layering, emerging as a pathetic alcoholic and pill addict who’s easily defeated when pursing clues. “The Eleventh Commandment” is light on noble characters, with the only brightness in the movie found with Kim (Haunani Minn), Uncle Charlie’s maid and the sole person to actually show concern for Deborah. The film needs more Kim, with Leder under the impression he’s making a sophisticated study in morality. He’s not, keeping the feature in neutral while shocking violence has no impact, and corporate hustle is more of a leisurely stroll.

The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive," "The Eleventh Commandment" delivers an appealing AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail is strong throughout, handling textured facial surfaces and costuming, with polyester business attire and sheer lingerie preserved. Household decoration is open for inspection, and distances with beaches and scenes of travel are dimensional. Colors deliver satisfying primaries, with blue and orange outfits, distinct greenery, red cars, and urban signage. Skintones are natural. Delineation is comfortable, preserving frame information. Source is in decent shape, with some mild judder and speckling.

The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA deals with direct dialogue exchanges, finding a few angry flare-ups fuzzing out. Performances are intelligible and emotional moods are secured. Scoring efforts are supportive, with satisfactory instrumentation. Atmospherics are acceptable, offering changes in room tone and outdoor environments. Recording limitations are periodically encountered, but this is an inherent issue.

The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Lifetime of Preparation" (17:13, HD) is a video conference interview with actor Bernard White, who shares his character preparation for "The Eleventh Commandment," looking to add bits of "Hamlet" and elements from his own family history to inform his take on Robert. He also dissects the character's arc, and details his time inside a real psychiatric facility, which gave him even more to work with. An assessment of director Paul Leder is offered, with the helmer a good friend who was happy to support White's career, working together for seven films. Faced with sharing screen time with a child actor, White explores his history in theater, getting used to younger performers while enrolled at a Michigan college. The interviewee highlights his relationship with Lauren Woodland, who played Deborah, and offers memories of the Los Angeles shoot, delighted to see so much of the city. White closes with his perspective on the Leder family collaboration, with Paul working closely with his daughters, and he highlights Quentin Tarantino's love for Leder's work.

• "Through the Eyes of a Child" (11:55, HD) is a video conference interview with actress Lauren Woodland, who recalls her early career aspirations in Arizona, participating in acting classes and commercial auditions before moving to Los Angeles. Woodland recalls getting the part in "The Eleventh Commandment," picking up on the violence included in the screenplay but offered nothing but comfort by Paul Leder and the production, who made sure she felt at ease with material. Talk of character is included, along with the feature's tone, as Woodland doesn't classify "The Eleventh Commandment" as a horror movie. She shares scene memories, working with Bernard White, and explains how bizarre it is to have this document of her youth.

• Promotional Gallery (:34) collects a few film stills from "The Eleventh Commandment."

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

The Eleventh Commandment Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's nothing inherently wrong with the performances in "The Eleventh Commandment," as the cast commits to the best of their abilities, trying to make Leder's limited imagination for ugliness seem more haunting than it really is. They do just fine with a movie that should be a horror film, but really isn't, and comes up short as a family drama. It's mediocrity in search of true sleaziness, never offering genuine satisfaction with anything it's selling.