Follow @screenit

"SKINWALKERS" (2007) (Jason Behr, Elias Koteas) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Moderate Extreme *Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Mild Extreme None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Moderate Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Horror: A group of non-violent werewolves tries to protect a 12-year-old boy from a group of violent ones who fear that he might be the realization of a prophecy that could put an end to their kind. PLOT: Varek (JASON BEHR) is a werewolf who enjoys the lycanthropic lifestyle and thus is concerned about the myth of a boy who will one day put an end to their type on his thirteenth birthday, coinciding with the arrival of a red moon. Accompanied by his motorcycle gang of fellow werewolves, including Sonja (NATASSIA MALTHE), Zo (KIM COATES) and others, he's headed for the town of Huguenot, looking for Tim (MATTHEW KNIGHT) who's about to turn thirteen, just as a red moon has risen. Of course, neither Tim nor his single mom Rachel (RHONA MITRA) knows anything about this. But others in the town, both human and werewolf, have known all along, and have done everything in their power to keep Tim's existence a secret in the werewolf world. Chief among them is Jonas (ELIAS KOTEAS), the boy's uncle who -- as one of the good werewolves along with his daughter Katherine (SARAH CARTER), her boyfriend, Adam (SHAWN ROBERTS), and Tim's grandmother, Nana (BARBARA GORDON) -- has vowed never to commit an act of violence while in beastly form. Along with humans Will (TOM JACKSON) and Doak (LYRIC BENT), they need to keep Tim safe so that he can put an end, once and for all, to the curse affecting them and all other werewolves. Not surprisingly, Varek and his type aren't happy about this, and thus do everything in their power to find and kill the boy before his big birthday. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into horror films (particularly ones about werewolves) and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual material and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JASON BEHR plays a bad werewolf who wants Tim dead so that he and all of his kind can maintain their lifestyle. He kills some characters. ELIAS KOTEAS plays a good werewolf who wants to protect his nephew from Varek and his minions, and must choose between saving him and Katherine, his daughter. RHONA MITRA plays his sister-in-law, a presumed widow who must contend with the disturbing news about her son and the efforts of those who want him dead. NATASSIA MALTHE plays Varek's vampy minion who shows cleavage and has the same desire as him and the rest of the bad werewolves, including one played by KIM COATES. MATTHEW KNIGHT plays the 12-year-old boy who discovers that not only is his father alive, but that he's also a villain who wants him dead since the boy is the physical realization of an ancient prophesy regarding the final cure for lycanthropy. SARAH CARTER plays his cousin who assists in protecting him, all while acting just a tiny bit suggestively toward her boyfriend, played by SHAWN ROBERTS, who's concerned about her well-being. TOM JACKSON and LYRIC BENT play human caretakers for the good vampires who battle the bad ones to make sure Tim makes it to his 13th birthday. BARBARA GORDON plays Tim's grandmother who tries to protect him from Varek and the others. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this horror film that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of a slang term using male genitals, while other milder expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Very brief and non-explicit, but sexually related innuendo is present, while a poorly edited montage shows either a sexual encounter or a rape (with skin-to-skin contact, but nothing more explicit than that). One female character shows varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot). Violence consists of humans and werewolves attacking each other via various means (mostly gunfire, but also some biting and punching, etc.), sometimes with fatal results. Some of that has bloody results, and all of that, moments of peril, as well as the appearance of the werewolves could be unsettling to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such mayhem, but probably few others. Some of the action may be enticing for some kids to imitate, while all of the villains have bad attitudes, there's tense family material, and the very brief presence of alcohol. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, that occurs at several points in the film, including from much lightning toward the end. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, varying amounts of handheld camerawork (sometimes quite bouncy) occurs in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Some liquor is served in a saloon. BLOOD/GORE A man is seen hanging upside down, with some blood running down his face from what looks like a neck wound. A werewolf wipes various bloody scratches on his torso. We see a bloody bandage over a person's face in a hospital, but then learn that's been faked. During an escape from the hospital, Doak is shot in the back (we see a small, bloody bullet hole in his shirt). Katherine has a little bit of blood from her lip after being captured. We see that Varek and his goons have strung up Katherine, somewhat crucifixion style, and she has some blood on her skin and clothes. Jonas has a bit of a bloody lip after being hit several times. A bad werewolf has various bloody scrapes on his body. Rachel has some bloody scrapes on her neck after battling Sonja. Varek has blood around his mouth after biting into another werewolf, and then various bloody scrapes on his face and body when he turns back into a human. Tim appears to have some blood on his neck after being bitten there. We see blood in syringes, with some being put into bullets to be used on bad werewolves (the latter is not seen). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Varek and his minions obviously have bad attitudes, as they're the villains who wish to kill Tim so that they can remain as bad werewolves. Two men seem prepared to rape a woman in a saloon, starting by pinning her to a pool table. However, various bad werewolves then arrive on the scene, attack (throwing them about) and kill the two men (by biting into them). One werewolf then menacingly approaches the young woman who screams in terror. This is followed by a poorly edited montage showing sex and/or rape, but it's hard to tell what's occurring (no explicit details, just skin on skin and implied movement, and some werewolves feeding on the humans, etc.). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, but probably few, if any others. The appearance of the werewolves (sharp teeth, glowing eyes, menacing desire to kill, etc.) might be unsettling or even scary to some younger and/or sensitive viewers. The lights go out in a caretaker's home, and the husband goes to reset the breaker. When he bends down to pick up something, we see a werewolf behind him (and we then hear violence, followed by seeing his body fall to a staircase landing). Rachel is worried because Tim can't breathe (apparently from an asthma type reaction), but Will takes care of him and the boy is then fine. Rachel hides with Tim inside a window where a bad werewolf stands. Just then, a hand goes across her mouth, but it's Jonas, wanting to get them to safety. Two men seem prepared to rape a woman in a saloon, starting by pinning her to a pool table. However, various bad werewolves then arrive on the scene, attack (throwing them about) and kill the two men (by biting into them). One werewolf then menacingly approaches the young woman who screams in terror. This is followed by a poorly edited montage showing sex and/or rape, but it's hard to tell what's occurring (no explicit details, just skin on skin and implied movement, and some werewolves feeding on the humans, etc.). Varek has his arm around Katherine's neck, with a gun to her head, threatening to shoot her if Jonas doesn't give up Tim. Driven by Rachel, the good werewolf truck ends up crashing and overturning. Jonas has Rachel and Tim hide in a steel cage in a warehouse at night, as he prepares to turn into a werewolf, and as Varek and his remaining goons arrive, desperate to kill Tim before it's too late for them. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Shotguns/Rifles/Machine guns/Knives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound, or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You shot me, you little pr*ck," "Do you want to see something freaky? "What up, dawg?" "Be cool, fool," "What the hell /is happening/is he talking about?" "Where in the hell are we gonna go?" "Screw this," "This is screwed up," "You shut your mouth" and "Let's get the hell out of here." The action in the film might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Sonja wears a midriff-revealing top. JUMP SCENES A man turns and Varek is suddenly there. Rachel hides with Tim inside a window where a bad werewolf stands. Just then, a hand goes across her mouth, but it's Jonas, wanting to get them to safety. There's a sudden sound behind Adam and Katherine, but it turns out to be just a hospital worker. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 slang term using male genitals ("pr*ck"), 4 hells, 1 crap, 1 damn, 3 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use of "G-damn." SEX/NUDITY Sonja shows varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot) in her bra-like top (that's sometimes partially covered, sometimes not). We see somewhat of an artsy montage where Sonja's shirt is off and we very briefly see her in her bra. The camera focuses on a young woman's short skirt-covered butt as she walks along. A poorly edited montage shows sex and/or rape, but it's hard to tell what's occurring (no explicit details, just skin on skin and implied movement, etc.). After that's done, we see Varek shirtless, while one bad male werewolf tells Sonja that she might like it if she tries it (meaning sex), but she replies, "Not in this lifetime." About being a couple, Adam playfully asks what the pay is for such an arrangement, with Katherine suggestively saying it's more about the "benefits." SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES A woman watches as a werewolf kills her husband and we hear her screaming after that. Rachel is worried because Tim can't breathe (apparently from an asthma type reaction), but Will takes care of him and the boy is then fine. Rachel thinks her husband has been dead for 13 years (and, by default, so does Tim regarding his father), but they and we later learn this isn't true. Varek has his arm around Katherine's neck, with a gun to her head, threatening to shoot her if Jonas doesn't give up Tim (thus making that a tense family moment for Jonas). Spoiler Alert: Rachel and Tim learn that Varek is really their husband/father and must contend with the emotions of that and of him being a villain. Jonas must again face the tough choice of going to rescue his captured daughter or staying put to ensure Tim's safety. Knowing his daughter is infected as a bad werewolf, a father yells for her boyfriend to shoot her. When the latter can't and ends up being killed, the father must kill his daughter (by shooting her). Spoiler Alert: Tim sees his father kill his uncle. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The Navajo legend of skinwalkers (which is different from what's presented here). Werewolves. Spoiler Alert: Rachel and Tim learn that Varek is really their husband/father and must contend with the emotions of that and of him being a villain. Facing the choice of saving one person over another. VIOLENCE A man runs through the woods, finding a few bodies here and there, including one strung up, upside down in a tree. He takes cover behind a tree into which a knife is thrown. He then readies his handgun, but when he turns, Varek is there and punches him. We next see that man hanging upside down, with some blood running down his face from what looks like a neck wound. When he won't say where Tim is, Varek shoots him dead (we don't see the impact). The lights go out in a caretaker's home, and the husband goes to reset the breaker. When he bends down to pick up something, we see a werewolf behind him (and we then hear violence, followed by seeing his body fall to a staircase landing). We next see him and others strung up with tape over their mouths, and when that man's wife won't talk, one werewolf stabs the man in the gut, killing him (we don't see the actual impact or death). Varek and his crew arrive in town and slowly walk around, trying to find Tim. Varek eventually does, with Nana by his side, and the two adults get into a gun battle (where she appears to be hit at least once in the arm, but keeps firing), followed by members from both sides engaging in a massive gun battle (where lots of things but few bodies are hit). During this, N is hit again, as is another character. A huge truck then smashes through a garage wall, knocking one bad werewolf aside. That's followed by more shooting from both sides, including Nana being hit again. However, she manages to get off a shot that hits a gas pump, causing a large explosion. As a good werewolf is about to turn into a werewolf, Varek shoots her dead. Two men seem prepared to rape a woman in a saloon, starting by pinning her to a pool table. However, various bad werewolves then arrive on the scene, attack (throwing them about) and kill the two men (by biting into them). One werewolf then menacingly approaches the young woman who screams in terror. This is followed by a poorly edited montage showing sex and/or rape, but it's hard to tell what's occurring (no explicit details, just skin on skin and implied movement, and some werewolves feeding on the humans, etc.). Tim has several nightmares or visions at various points in the film of violence from long ago, where some men toss his mom aside, etc. We hear a scream and then barely/partially see a dead person (the result of unseen violence). Sonja attacks Rachel in a hospital room, knocking her aside and then climbing onto Tim's bed where she tries to strangle him. Doak then pulls her off, and the two battle, with each striking and knocking the other around. In another part of the hospital, Jonas opens fire on a bad werewolf, followed by a gun battle with others there. During an escape from the hospital, Doak is shot in the back (we see a small, bloody bullet hole in his shirt). Varek has his arm around Katherine's neck, with a gun to her head, threatening to shoot her if Jonas doesn't give up Tim. Another gun battle breaks out, with the good werewolves' large truck being riddled with shots, but those inside are okay. We see that Varek and his goons have strung up Katherine, somewhat crucifixion style, and she has some blood on her skin and clothes. Jonas strikes Adam for running off to rescue Katherine, thus potentially leading the villains back to them. A woman appears quite pained as she's infected by bad werewolf feelings. She then grabs one man and breaks his neck, followed by her boyfriend (who's mostly shackled to a wall) aiming a gun at her, but the best he can do is shoot her in the leg. She then approaches him, takes the gun, and shoots him in the gut, killing him. She then calls for Tim to open the door to the front of the truck, but Jonas (who's also partially shackled to the wall) yells for him not to. She backhands Jonas twice, and the boy opens the door, but holds a rifle on the young woman who approaches him. We hear a gunshot, but then see that Jonas shot her dead from behind. Jonas yanks up one bad werewolf, repeatedly slashes and attacks him with his werewolf claws, and then cuts the line, sending the werewolf falling a long way to the floor. Jonas battles another werewolf, with both flying up and meeting in midair, followed by lots of hitting and such. Sonja lands on top of a steel cage, causing the top grate to fall down onto Rachel, and the two battle on either side of that. Tim then shoots Sonja with a shotgun, followed by Rachel doing the same, blasting her many times. Varek knocks Rachel aside and menacingly approaches Tim, but Jonas then grabs and fights with Varek. He bites into Varek's arm, but Varek then gets him on the neck, seemingly killing him. Rachel then repeatedly shoots Varek, seemingly killing him. But Varek then gets up, Rachel is out of ammo, Varek knocks her aside, and then bites down into Tim (he lives). Rachel then knocks Varek off the platform down to the floor below them (he lives). Seeing what looks like Death approaching them from behind, Rachel pulls her gun and holds it on the guy wearing the Halloween costume, scaring him. Reviewed August 10, 2007 / Posted August 10, 2007

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2016 Screen It, Inc.