Skinwalkers

Introduction

This werewolf film by inexperienced director James Isaac (Jason X) begins with a Native American prophecy that a thirteen year old boy exists who will bring about the end of the Skinwalkers. However, over the years, the Skinwalkers have split into two groups: those who want to get rid of the curse and those who believe that they are blessed with a gift.

Timothy (Matthew Knight) has been raised in a sleepy backwater town by his mother Rachel (Rhona Mitra), her brother Jonas (Elias Koteas) and his grandmother but, unknown to Timothy and Rachel, they are the only residents who aren't werewolves - Timothy is a half breed and the townsfolk only reveal their true identities when it becomes clear that Timothy's life is in danger.

Varek (Jason Behr) discovers Timothy's location and sets off with his 'pack' to kill him before the full moon when he will turn thirteen and have full control over his powers, bringing the prophecy to bear.

Video

This is very stylishly shot, with some terrific day-for-night shooting and colour filters which give the bulk of the film a red hue.

The werewolf effects by the late, great Stan Winston are really interesting, not transforming the humans into wolves (à la An American Werewolf in London) but keeping their human form but covering them in fur and elongating the eyes and teeth. Most of the time they work and are effective but sometimes they just look a bit silly.

Audio

There's only a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but this isn't a problem as the track is good, putting the surrounds through their paces and creating some good aural stabs to go with the visual jumps.

There are English HoH subtitles available.

Extra Features

The making of is just over 8 minutes long and has one of those dreadful voiceovers that you normally find in trailers but it contains some useful information and interviews with members of the cast and crew.

There is an animatic of the shootout scene with the commentary explaining that they mapped everything out on computer first to help with planning the scene. There is also some developmental footage of a CGI Skinwalker, an eagle and some computer tinting.

The seven deleted scenes are better left that way and there's no introduction or commentary to explain their omission. The trailer is also included.

Unlike the R1 release there is no director's commentary, nor a 6.1 DTS ES audio track.

Conclusion

Skinwalkers is an interesting, though not entirely successful, addition to the werewolf subgenre. Whether or not you class the Skinwalkers in this film as werewolves or prefer to think of them as shapeshifters who take on animal forms shouldn't affect your enjoyment - if you take the Navajo legend that seriously, chances are you won't be watching anyway.

James Isaac proves himself a competent director, with some stylishly shot and well constructed scenes, especially the western-style shootout in the town when Varek and his crew arrive. Isaac is a 'nuts and bolts' director - he knows how to make a movie but doesn't have the flair, intelligence or experience to create anything better than merely average. I quite like Jason X as it is so stupidly trashy that it takes the ridiculous nature of the Friday the 13th sequels to a new level but keeps a sense of the absurd and remains watchable - Skinwalkers cries out to be taken seriously when the film needs an injection of humour that is sorely lacking.

Ultimately though, this isn't a particularly successful film as the story seems more suited to a TV mini-series than a movie which I didn't mind watching but everything felt predictable and it unfortunately takes itself too seriously. It's worth a look but I wouldn't rush out to buy or rent it.