Overview

A deranged Vietnam veteran returns home and begins a violent rampage, targeting promiscuous teens and anyone who crosses his path. A local sheriff and a group of survivors must stop him before he turns their small town into a bloodbath. Packed with over-the-top gore, dark humor, and low-budget charm, this slasher flick embraces its grindhouse roots while delivering a twisted take on morality and vengeance.

Media

The Deep Dive

Why It's in the Vault

A quintessential 'So Bad It's Good' slasher with a title that promises—and delivers—moral hypocrisy and carnage.
Directed by Josh Becker, a frequent collaborator of Sam Raimi, this film embodies the DIY spirit of 1980s indie horror with its shoestring budget and unapologetic gore.
The movie’s tone swings wildly between dark comedy and brutal violence, making it a cult favorite among fans of offbeat B-movies.
Features a memorably unhinged performance by Robert Rickman as the vengeance-driven killer, complete with a creepy mask and a machete.

Trivia

Shot in just 18 days on a budget of around $50,000, the film was originally titled *Stryker’s War* before being changed for distribution.
The infamous 'treehouse massacre' scene was inspired by a real-life incident where a Vietnam vet went on a killing spree in a small town.
Sam Raimi served as a producer and even makes a cameo appearance as a corpse.
The film’s title is a play on the biblical commandment, reflecting its themes of selective morality and vigilante justice.
Originally released on VHS, it gained a second life on DVD and streaming platforms, where its reputation as a cult classic grew.

Fan Theories

Some fans speculate that the killer’s backstory—hinted at but never fully explained—was inspired by real-life PTSD-driven crimes of the era, adding a layer of unintentional social commentary.
The movie’s abrupt ending has led to theories that a lost sequel or alternate cut exists, possibly featuring more of the killer’s origin story.
The film’s mix of humor and horror has sparked debates over whether it was intentionally campy or just poorly executed, with many arguing it’s a masterpiece of accidental comedy.

SlasherExploitationGrindhouseHorror-Comedy