The Skulls (2000)

A senior at an ivy league college, who depends on scholarships and working on the side, gets accepted into the secret society The Skulls. He hopes it betters chances at Harvard but The Skulls is not what he thought and comes at a price.

Director:

Rob Cohen

Writer:

John Pogue

Stars:

Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker, Hill Harper

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joshua Jackson	...	Luke McNamara
Paul Walker	...	Caleb Mandrake
Hill Harper	...	Will Beckford
Leslie Bibb	...	Chloe
Christopher McDonald	...	Martin Lombard
Steve Harris	...	Detective Sparrow
William Petersen	...	Ames Levritt
Craig T. Nelson	...	Litten Mandrake
David Asman	...	Jason Pitcairn
Scott Gibson	...	Travis Wheeler
Nigel Bennett	...	Dr. Whitney
Andrew Kraulis	...	McBride
Derek Aasland	...	Sullivan
Jennifer Melino	...	J.J.
Noah Danby	...	Hugh Mauberson

Storyline

Luke McNamara, a college senior from a working class background joins a secret elitist college fraternity organization called "The Skulls", in hope of gaining acceptance into Harvard Law School. At first seduced by the club's trapping of power and wealth, a series of disturbing incidents, such as his best friends suicide, leads Luke to investigate the true nature of the organization and the truth behind his friends supposed suicide. He starts realizing that his future and possibly his life is in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

college | ivy league | suicide | secret society | friend | 

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Taglines:

If a secret society can give you everything you desire, imagine what they can take away.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lobanje

Filming Locations:

Belfountain, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,034,885, 2 April 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$35,007,180, 28 May 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Original Film, Newmarket Capital Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Skull-and-Bones Society (on which this movie was based) actually gives out watches to each class of skulls, though not necessarily with the whole branding ceremony. After the movie was filmed, Joshua Jackson acquired one of the actual watches and gave it to director Rob Cohen.

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Goofs

In the playback of the murder tape, the line: "You stole my key, you stole my book...now I want your camera, I want the tape, and I want my stuff back now" is said differently on the video than it is said the first time that line took place.

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Quotes

Caleb Mandrake: Where can I get some more of that shit?

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Alternate Versions

The DVD version includes deleted scenes showing: Luke working as a singing flower delivery boy; a longer bar scene; after the bar scene they stop off at the news office; what happens after they fall off the roof; judge Mandrake blackmailing Luke; judge Mandrake convincing Caleb to "confess".

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Connections

Featured in Beyond Clueless (2014)

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Soundtracks

Higher
Written by Scott Stapp & Mark Tremonti
Performed by Creed

User Reviews

Dangerously Close for 2000

Here's another totally refreshing flick for 2000 that joined Final Destination and a few other films. Certainly something different, (I know I say that a lot) here's one quite intriguing. Secret societies do exist, I'm convinced of that. The boosted up take on this one, makes it a dangerously super exciting flick. An elected and privileged few on campus students, who are part of this secret society, known as the skulls, their logo, literally branded on the hand, can have anything their heart desires, hot flashy woman, elite women, and big balances in their ATM, only it comes with a price. Luke McNamara (Joshua "Dawson's Creek" Jackson, stepping up into film with the lead role) is one of those few, where soon his close room mates and friends, who are becoming distanced from him, caution him earlier, on the dangers of this infamous group, especially his male buddy, who's pretty suss, and ultimately pays with his own life, later, while doing some snooping around. The performances are genuinely are good in this, notably Craig T Nelson, one of the founders of the society, and William L Petersen, a southern mayor and willing member, where soon as the movie enters more dramatic states, where questions need to be answered. Paul Walker isn't too bad either as Craig T Nelson's troubled and schooled son, bossed around by his father, where he befriends Jackson, in a so so, but spirited performance, where a very dramatic standoff ending ensues, it's all so seriously thrilling, and that's what The Skulls is. It's another product of new styled films, we need, as we drift into the millennium, as this impressive pic, bound of course to spawn sequels, does us proud. Go see it.