Review #57: Skinwalkers (2006)

Cast/Notable Credits:
James Issac (Director): Jason X

Jason Behr (Varek): D-War (2007), The Grudge , Happily Ever After (2004), Roswell T.V. series

Elias Koteas (Jonas): TMNT 1 (1990) & 3 (1993), Contact (1992), Cyborg 2 (1993), Crash (1996), Gattaca (1997), Apt Pupil (1998), Thin Red Line (1998), Zodiac (2007)

Rhona Mitra (Rachel): Hollow Man (2000), Highwaymen (2003), Life of David Gale (2003), Spartcus (2004), The Number 23 (2007), Doomsday (2008), Underworld 3 (2009), Boston Legal, The Practice, Nip Tuck, Gideon’s Crossing and Party of 5 T.V. series

Natassia Malthe (Sonja): Halloween Resurrection

Kim Coates (Zo): Silent Hill (2006), Hostage (2005), Assualt on Precinct 13 (2005), Black Hawk Down (2001), Pearl Harbor (2001), Waterworld (1995), The Client (1994), The Last Boy Scout (1994)

Sarah Carter (Katherine): Wishmaster 3 (2001), Final Destination 2 (2003), D.O.A. (2006), Shark T.V. series

Matthew Knight (Tim): The Grudge 2 & 3 (2009)

Shawn Roberts (Adam): X-Men (2000), Land of the Dead, Cheaper by the Dozen (2005), Stir of Echoes 2 (2007), Diary of the Dead

Lyrig Bent (Doak): Saw 2,3, & 4, Four Brothers (2005), Caveman’s Valentine (2001)

Wendy Crewson (Leader): Santa Clause 1,2, &3 (1994,2002,2006), The Covenant (2006), The 6th Day (2000), What Lies Beneath (2000), Bicentennial Man (1999), Air Force One (1997)

Trailer:

Plot:

A 12 year old boy is discovered to be an ancient prophet of the werewolves. He is a half-breed (part human/part werewolf) that controls the destiny of werewolves once he turns 13 years old.

Three days before his 13th birthday, an “evil” werewolf pack discovers his true identity and begins a madhunt to find and kill him. They believe that he will destroy the werewolf race. Since birth, the boy has been guarded by a “good” werewolf pack (and mom…who is also a werewolf) who has secretly known his true destiny.

His protectors discover that a rival pack has intentions to kill him, and they decide to hide and protect him until his birthday. The evil pack shows up in the good pack's town, and the good pack fights them off and takes the kid on the road as they try to out run the “evil” pack. *** SPOILER *** The boys father leads the “evil” pack. *End Spoiler *

Villain:

A pack of “evil” werewolves. Hmm. I thought most were evil. The evil ones do have some hot chicks that make up the band. Werewolf special effects were pretty good, but nothing I got excited about.

Cast:

Pretty much a disposable cast of characters consisting of a bunch of minor actors and actresses who have starred in some decent movies. Rhona Mitra (Pictured below) plays Rachel, the kid's mother. Mitra plays a troubled single mom who will protect her kid at any cost. She probably has the best performance in my opinion.

I give some props to the little kid for a decent acting job. It's pretty hard for young actors to nail certain roles, but I believe he did a good job. Everyone else in the cast...I kept on thinking..."I know them from somewhere!"

SFX/Gore:

A dozen puppies roll over in this one. There was a TON of gun fights to supply the action in the film. And of course...there were a few werewolf on werewolf fights, but that is to be expected.

The werewolf transformation scenes were pretty good, but I wasn’t too impressed with the overall look of the werewolf. I typically don't like the big beasty looking human wolf thing.

TNA:

The film lacks TNA but strives in number of hot chicks in it. No sex acts or boobies, even though there were some moments to sneek them in. The lovely Sarah Carter (pictured below).


T.Gun Factor:

After seeing this movie and realizing that Director James Issac did Jason X, I pretty much concluded that plot is not his strong point when making movies. Plot holes all around, storyline and sequences that made you wanna scratch your head. Typically, Issac does thrive in special effects in his movies and movie was another example. The setting and tone to the movie had a pretty good dark feel to it.

The movie was predictable until the end and offered little enjoyment. What probably hurt it’s case was that I saw the American Werewolf movies right before this one. Those movies were well done, and lining this one up next to them probably doesn’t give it the proper justice. But then again it wasn’t going to do much any way.

One of the biggest things that griped me about this movie was the “on the run” storyline. Once the “evil” pack finds the boy’s hometown and him, the “good” pack uses a A-Team vamped up Frito Lay truck to outrun the bad guys. The “good” guys take the boy on the road in the truck out racing a pack of motorbiking bad guys. Like Lorenzo Lamas a.k.a. Renegade.

The good guys always stop off and allow the bad guys to catch up and act surprised when they arrive. They stop to strap themselves into the back of the Frito Lay truck for the night (when they transform into werewolves), and then continue once morning hits. Seriously, all they have to do is get to the kid’s 13th birthday which is in like…a day most of the film. Why stop? Keep going bitches! No need to “hide” in a cave or hold out in a factory for the night. Keep on truckin’.

Misc. Movie Trivia:
- Film released on August 10, 2007 in limited release