loading loading...

The Skulls Reviews

2000 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2124 members

College senior, Luke McNamara, is invited to join a secret fraternity organisation called 'The Skulls'. At first he is excited by this prospect, but as time passes he realises that the group harbours some sinister secrets... Read more

Starring Joshua Jackson, Hill Harper, Paul Walker, Craig T. Nelson
Director Rob Cohen
Genres Thriller

loading loading...

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Skulls

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek's Pacey Witter) places his first foot firmly on the road to Hollywood stardom with a leading role in this preposterous but entertaining thriller. Jackson plays Luke, a non-wealthy student who is given the opportunity to join a college secret society called the Skulls, which counts politicians and rich businessmen among its alumni. Shortly after Luke's initiation (which involves a lot of running to answer phones and climbing up college steeples), his best friend (who'd been investigating the group) suspiciously commits suicide, leaving Luke to choose between his jet-set pals and justice. An initially tense set-up by director Rob Cohen (Dragonheart) gets increasingly daft as the Skulls go to bizarre lengths to harbour their secrets, but Jackson holds your interest until the end — surely the best talent a star-in-the-making could hope to have.

    • Radio Times
  • Members of Yale's real-life secret society, the Skull and Bones, have included business magnates, CIA men and... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Bland conspiracy drama that plays like a bad TV movie.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Skulls

    View all
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Not a bad thriller...

    I can't quite see why 2 sequels to this film were made. Nevertheless, it's a decent enough thriller, based on the real-life 'secret' organisation of which George W. Bush is allegedly a member.

    The main cast are okay and the plot is just on the right side of ridiculous, although I could never quite get rid of the feeling that I'd seen something similar before.

    For what it is, it's entertaining enough and there's an enjoyable appearance by CSI's William Petersen.

      • A customer from Hartlepool, England
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    "The Skulls" really is a big let down.

    A real laugh with unrealistic situations that fails on just about every level. This film is a 'B' Movie! One Star is too high a rating.

      • 1414 from Norfolk
  • Rated - 2 stars

    OK

    This flick was OK. I shouldn't have been expecting much to be fair and it wasn't exactly 'clever' but still, if you have a couple of hours to spare its worth watching.

      • A customer from Glasgow
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Skulls

    View all
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Not a bad thriller...

    I can't quite see why 2 sequels to this film were made. Nevertheless, it's a decent enough thriller, based on the real-life 'secret' organisation of which George W. Bush is allegedly a member.

    The main cast are okay and the plot is just on the right side of ridiculous, although I could never quite get rid of the feeling that I'd seen something similar before.

    For what it is, it's entertaining enough and there's an enjoyable appearance by CSI's William Petersen.

      • A customer from Hartlepool, England
  • Rated - 2 stars

    pretty dull

    The film has an interesting premise but unfortunately goes from unlikely to ludicrous in how it is played out without too much hesitation. The best bit (for fans of CSI) was was the random casting of Hill Harper and, even stranger, William Petersen (aka Grissom) as a sleazy senator with a southern drawl; alas though even this wasn't really enough to maintain interest as Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker trudged about on screen trying to make a rich little boys club seem exciting rather than tragically self-absorbed and very inbred.

      • si81 from Lancaster
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Not a bad thriller...

    I can't quite see why 2 sequels to this film were made. Nevertheless, it's a decent enough thriller, based on the real-life 'secret' organisation of which George W. Bush is allegedly a member.

    The main cast are okay and the plot is just on the right side of ridiculous, although I could never quite get rid of the feeling that I'd seen something similar before.

    For what it is, it's entertaining enough and there's an enjoyable appearance by CSI's William Petersen.

      • A customer from Hartlepool, England
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    "The Skulls" really is a big let down.

    A real laugh with unrealistic situations that fails on just about every level. This film is a 'B' Movie! One Star is too high a rating.

      • 1414 from Norfolk
  • Rated - 2 stars

    OK

    This flick was OK. I shouldn't have been expecting much to be fair and it wasn't exactly 'clever' but still, if you have a couple of hours to spare its worth watching.

      • A customer from Glasgow
  • Rated - 1 star

    fell asleep

    fell asleep so dont really know.....

      • A customer from middx
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Great

    Love it, great film with lots of interesting action scenes.

      • A customer from england
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Wow! Paul Walker and Josh Jackson

    Well the write up for this doesn't do it justice.

    It's a look behind what really happens in American university/college and the intricacies of their secret societies. The murders cover ups and schemes that these entail.

    You'll love it!

      • LisaJayne1981 from Lancashire
  • Rated - 2 stars

    pretty dull

    The film has an interesting premise but unfortunately goes from unlikely to ludicrous in how it is played out without too much hesitation. The best bit (for fans of CSI) was was the random casting of Hill Harper and, even stranger, William Petersen (aka Grissom) as a sleazy senator with a southern drawl; alas though even this wasn't really enough to maintain interest as Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker trudged about on screen trying to make a rich little boys club seem exciting rather than tragically self-absorbed and very inbred.

      • si81 from Lancaster
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent

    You have just got to see this film, slick, smart and gripping

      • A customer from London
  • Rated - 3 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Entertaining thriller

    Not exactly gonna rock your world, but a decent thriller all the same. I like Joshua Jackson as an actor, I find him entertaining to watch - it's a shame we haven't seen more of him in movies, like the similarly talented Paul Walker. Good acting, decent enough story, even though you may get a sense of deja vu, a few decent twists and a hot girl in the form of the ever-cute Leslie Bibb. All add up to make a fun little thriller, despite the odd far-fetched moments. Certainly worth a rent.

      • Mickey Mouse from Dorset, England
  • Rated - 2 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Mhhh

    Not that bad because I like this sort of movie and I quite like Joshua Jackson & Paul Walker. However, easy to forget and bit boring at times.

      • gianino from London
  • Critics' reviews (3)

  • 3 stars out of 5

    Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek's Pacey Witter) places his first foot firmly on the road to Hollywood stardom with a leading role in this preposterous but entertaining thriller. Jackson plays Luke, a non-wealthy student who is given the opportunity to join a college secret society called the Skulls, which counts politicians and rich businessmen among its alumni. Shortly after Luke's initiation (which involves a lot of running to answer phones and climbing up college steeples), his best friend (who'd been investigating the group) suspiciously commits suicide, leaving Luke to choose between his jet-set pals and justice. An initially tense set-up by director Rob Cohen (Dragonheart) gets increasingly daft as the Skulls go to bizarre lengths to harbour their secrets, but Jackson holds your interest until the end — surely the best talent a star-in-the-making could hope to have.

    • Radio Times
  • Members of Yale's real-life secret society, the Skull and Bones, have included business magnates, CIA men and... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Bland conspiracy drama that plays like a bad TV movie.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

Find cinemas


Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop


    • The Skulls
    • DVD: £4.43
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £9.79 (you save: 55%)
    • College senior, Luke McNamara, is invited to join a secret fraternity organisation called 'The Skulls'. At first he is excited by this prospect, but as time passes he realises that the group harbours ...

Rating breakdown

2,124 Member ratings
  • 100
114
  • 90
96
  • 80
263
  • 70
327
  • 60
542
  • 50
298
  • 40
227
  • 30
120
  • 20
91
  • 10
46

Related user collection

Celebrity collection

Noel Clarke (4)
Average rating: 3.78   75.6% from 50 members