The Skulls (2000)

9% of critics liked it
(85 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(55,670 ratings)

In this suspense drama, a college student finds himself immersed in forces beyond his control. Born and raised in a working-class Connecticut community, Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson) made it into an Ivy League college, where he's done quite well; his dream is to be accepted into Harvard Law School,… More In this suspense drama, a college student finds himself immersed in forces beyond his control. Born and raised in a working-class Connecticut community, Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson) made it into an Ivy League college, where he's done quite well; his dream is to be accepted into Harvard Law School, but he knows that it will take more than a good report card to beat out the competition. When an upper-crust secret society called the Skulls asks Luke to join, he eagerly accepts, thinking that the club's connections will help him gain acceptance to Harvard. He enjoys the Skulls' luxurious lifestyle, but when his roommate, a journalism student, dies of an apparent suicide, he's convinced that something is wrong. The deeper Luke digs into the secrets of the Skulls, the more he's convinced that his friend's death was no suicide and that he's put himself in more danger than he imagined. The Skulls was the first starring vehicle for Joshua Jackson, who gained fame on the TV series Dawson's Creek; the supporting cast includes Paul Walker, Craig T. Nelson, Hill Harper, and William L. Petersen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Rob Cohen
Written By: John Pogue
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Horror

In Theaters: Apr 1, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 2000
Studio: Universal Studios Home Video

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Initially tolerable but increasingly stupid.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
In an otherwise boneheaded hour and a half of intrigue and silliness, The Skulls does offer one of the more memorable lines of dialogue in recent movies.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It's so ludicrous in so many different ways it achieves a kind of forlorn grandeur.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
The Skulls plummets into the realm of ludicrous failure.
Tom Long, Detroit News
It's hard to get outraged about a movie this bad.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Skulls is shot and edited with enough verve to make you forget what a load of junk it is.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
The usually dependable Rob Cohen directs from a ludicrous script.
David Keyes, Cinemaphile.org
It's amazing that so many viewers were still seated by the time the end credits began to roll.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
The movie's unintentionally played like a comedy all the way.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...above-average teen thriller.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
It is so unbelievably ludicrous that I couldn't help but think that it was intentional despite Rob Cohen's constant attempts to convince me otherwise.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
[Cohen] has a knack for making the most ridiculous material suspenseful.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
A dark, stupid tale.
Ron Wells, Film Threat
The filmmakers would rather exploit and inflame a class war than deconstruct it.
Xan Brooks, Sight and Sound
Through pure mismanagement, The Skulls bungles a rich seam of material.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
With large amounts of alcohol and the right friends, it might be a Mystery Science Theater 3000-level hoot. Otherwise, The Skulls is a crime against humanity.
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix
Empty-headed piffle.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
I guess it wouldn't have been enough to just make an intelligent and gripping drama about Ivy League secret societies. No, we had to have a murder, coverup, good guys, bad guys, and so on.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
This is a straight to video job.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Would be scary if it weren't so stupid.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Eric A

This movie had lots of potential, but never filled it. The premise and the actual story is really interesting, but the cheesy acting kills the film.
Dean !

Finally got round to viewing this. A good young cast, including a very young Paul Walker. It's a decent conspiracy thriller about a secret society that picks the best students from the top universities. After a friends apparent suicide on campus though, is there more to this… More
Finally got round to viewing this. A good young cast, including a very young Paul Walker. It's a decent conspiracy thriller about a secret society that picks the best students from the top universities. After a friends apparent suicide on campus though, is there more to this elite group. It's entertaining, and has a strong cast line up, locations and action. If you like an thrillers check this out.
Aaron N

Caleb Mandrake: You've been digging, Luke, and if you keep digging, you'll be digging your own grave. A hilarious comedy about commitment, secret societies, and murder cover-ups. Featuring The Might Ducks' Joshua Jackson, Meet the Deedles' Paul Walker, Shooter… More
Caleb Mandrake: You've been digging, Luke, and if you keep digging, you'll be digging your own grave. A hilarious comedy about commitment, secret societies, and murder cover-ups. Featuring The Might Ducks' Joshua Jackson, Meet the Deedles' Paul Walker, Shooter McGavin as a heavy, and Craig T. Nelson's sinister mustache. Senator Ames Levritt: Our rules supercede those of the outside world.
Candy R

I love Joshua. Good thriller about faternity.
Jason S

Nothing original here.
danny d

good concept, terrible cast and acting
Dean M

It was quite good between the society and murder. Jackson's the hero in his first role.
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]In the prestigous college of Yale there exists an actual club known as the 'Skulls and Crossbones' which is now the basis for a teeny bopper thriller. Don't say Yale never paid its debt toward society.[/color][/font]… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]In the prestigous college of Yale there exists an actual club known as the 'Skulls and Crossbones' which is now the basis for a teeny bopper thriller. Don't say Yale never paid its debt toward society.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The Skulls are the campus country club, the boy's only treehouse, the velvet rope of the Ivy League. When most go on father/son picnics the Skulls posture about and brood in gothic castles with large words melded to larger walls. So sunshine and proper education be damned. They posess a long list of alumni, including Craig T. Nelson and a senator who appears driving around on campus so much you'd think he's scouting girls.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Enter WB heart-throb Joshua Jackson who wishes to join the elite boy scout troupe. Who wouldn't with the cars they hand out at you? Sadly the only black guy in the film, and probably the Ivy League for that matter (not a comment on racial intelligence) -who of course happens to be Jackson's friend- gets killed. Jackson starts having second thoughts on joining the overzealous organization. The rest of the flick is Jackson's quest to bring down the Skulls which somehow coincides with a lot of silly car chases. You think the Skulls could afford a car that could outrun a 'Dawson's Creek' kid.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The Skulls have bigger problems at hand than Joshua Jackson. Anyone with basic knowledge of turning a doorknob could break into this security behemoth. And what kind of working secret society is it when everyone on campus knows all about your organization? Doesn't this defy the meaning of "secret"? Usually a secret is better kept without large Skull banners, let alone Skull insignia branded onto members' flesh. You won't be fooling any people about being a member of the Skulls with a huge skull branding sindged on your damn arm in plain sight! There is so much Skull merchandise I figured there would be a Skulls home pregnancy test and some items endoresed by ad-man Michael Jordan. The reach the members of the Skulls posess defies logical thinking. Turns out these groups of angsty kids are more powerful than the CIA, FBI, KGB, and KFC combined. Must be their self-imposed lock on Clerasel and the WB's Wednesday lineup.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]'The Skulls' is teeny camp protrayed at its venerable worst. It starts to enter the so-bad-it's-good range but then you remember easily again that it is bad. Why do I have the feeling the actors involved in this will be signing their 'Skulls' checks under false names? Too bad you can't be anonymous with a damn Skull branding on your wrist.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: D [/color][/font]
Burger S

If you liked this, I recommend "The Good Sheppard" or vice versa
Deb S

Joshua Jackson plays a college student who gains entry to a secret society that includes senators and judges. A secret society so powerful, it can give you anything...at a price. During a hazing he befriends Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker) who is trying to live up to his father's… More
Joshua Jackson plays a college student who gains entry to a secret society that includes senators and judges. A secret society so powerful, it can give you anything...at a price. During a hazing he befriends Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker) who is trying to live up to his father's legacy in the Skulls. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=29dcrcm" target="_blank"><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/29dcrcm.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> Although thrust into a world of wealth and power, he begins to question his loyalty to the Skulls following the mysterious death of his friend who was investigating the secret society. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=1r8dbk" target="_blank"><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/1r8dbk.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The Skulls initially seems to offer an intriguing story. Everyone plays their part well, but no one really stands out. Joshua Jackson is a likable hero, and the gorgeous Paul Walker plays a decent conflicted character. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2ihb1qp" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2ihb1qp.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Noah N

'The Skulls' (2000) has a descent plot that kind of gets lost. You may or may not find pleasing.
Marion R

Joshua Jackson was actually good other than that it was just okay
Sarah P

This could have been a really interesting story about secret societies, but instead it was more teenage drama and ridiculous one-liners. Overall, it is enjoyable to watch, maybe not over and over, but sufficient for a lazy Sunday afternoon!
paganchild1979 p

How far will a college fraternity go to hide what really happens? Love this movie!
Laurence C

Badly acted, directed, plotted and written, The Skulls is an incredibly stupid movie. Period.