The Skulls (2000)

Secret Society Thriller

The Skulls was a lot better than expected. More than a decent time-waster, the script is well-written, and the plot a historically plausible what-if about a secret society of the rich and powerful, who pull the strings not just in society, but on each other.

The story is about a poor but streetwise kid struggling to pay his tuition at Harvard. He displays abilities that set him above the crowd, so is invited to join the Skulls, an elite group of sons of Harvard alum, all of whom are wealthy, and some of whom have risen to powerful positions, such as judge and senator. The kid's bank account is full, and everything seems grand, until his roommate decides to write an expose on the Skulls, which ends in his gruesome death. Not wanting to be part of the coverup, the kid must use every ounce of his street smarts to end the Skull's grip on him, and bring the truth to light.

The lead actor doesn't turn in a very strong performance, but the supporting actors more than pull their weight, so it balances out. The ending was surprising and the stunts, especially the driving, rock. September 1, 2008

Good looking but horribly dumb

This film is nicely shot and has a really good look to it, but these can't save it from a terrible script, wafer-thin plot, generally poor perfomances and lack of a single character with whom one could sympathise.

Avoid. October 25, 2007

interesting thriller involving a secret society

People, people, people! Please! I was reading some of the reviews for this movie. Seems some people rented/got this movie to "discover" those ancient secrets of such secret society or the Skulls and Bones. You really think they'll reveal them here?

Anyways, Luke is offered a chance to join the Skulls. The thing is that Luke is different from the other pledge brothers. He isn't a legacy nor does he come from old money. So, this is a rare opportunity of a lifetime.

In the middle of pledging or initiation rites, Luke discovers that his best friend, a student journalist, has committed suicide. Or was he staged to look like he committed suicide. Immediately, he suspects the Skulls. In a freakish way, the Skulls seems to know what Luke is thinking and doing.

Luke wants to back out and report the society of its involvement of a friend's death to the police. However, wherever he turns, there's a Skull blocking his way. Will Luke be able to avenge his friend's death?

Think of *The Skulls* as a collegiate version of *The Firm*. July 31, 2007

Great trash

This film is great, trashy fun. Of course, it's impossible to take it seriously. Inspired supposedly by Yale's Skulls and Bones, the movie has such incredible, unbelievable situations, that to enjoy it one has to see it as an unintentional comedy. My best scene in that sense would be when Joshua Jackson is interned by the baddies in a madhouse. It's such a ridiculous scene that you can't help laughing at it. The second-best situation would be the duel, and the father, telling his son after being shot the immortal line "You're not worth the trouble". Take it easy and laugh out loud. December 16, 2006

[Three-and-a-half out of five] Updated attempt to copy Brotherhood of the Bell!

Modern day attempt at old time expose
of Secret Societies / Fraternity and
not bad at all. Except for excessive
profanity in orginal print that will
keep some otherwise favorabley impressed
away. TV version has a bit cleaned up.
Supposed to be about Bush/Clinton/Gore/
Robertson cult known at Yale University
as Skull and Bones. Good bit of research
done by Hollywood Director, but nowhere
near as effective as Oliver Stone's JFK
or Michael Moore's best (Fahrenheit 9/11
or Roger and Me). Good effort nonetheless!
For a new generation, who better take this
as a warning. See also: Alexandra Robinson's
books! June 29, 2006

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