Even Stripped, "Skinwalkers" a Good Werewolf Flick

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux


Skinwalkers (2006)
Running time: 91 minutes (1 hour 31 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual material and language
DIRECTOR: James Isaac
WRITERS: James DeMonaco, Todd Harthan, and James Roday
PRODUCER: Dennis Berardi and Don Carmody
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: David A. Armstrong and Adam Kane
EDITOR: Allan Lee

FANTASY/THRILLER with elements of horror

Starring: Matthew Knight, Jason Behr, Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra, Natassia Malthe, Kim Coates, Sarah Carter, Tom Jackson, Rogue Johnston, Barbara Gordon, Shawn Roberts, and Lyric Bent

The subject of this movie review is Skinwalkers, a 2006 werewolf movie and horror-action film directed by James Isaac (Jason X). It was released to theatres in the United States in 2007.

In Skinwalkers, a pre-teen boy learns that he is the balance of power and object of desire in an old war between two factions of werewolves.

As he prepares to turn 13, 12-year-old Timothy (Matthew Knight) finds his health crashing around him, as he’s beset by asthma attacks and fainting spells. Timothy is also blissfully unaware that he is the tipping point in a long war between two groups of werewolves, which are also known as skinwalkers. One faction wants to be free of the curse of the werewolf; the other side joyously feeds on human flesh and thirsts for human blood. Timothy doesn’t know that he is a half-breed; his mother, Rachel (Rhona Mitra), is human and his deceased father is a werewolf. Timothy doesn’t even know that the extended family with which he grew up, including his Uncle Jonas (Elias Koteas), is a band of good-hearted werewolves that has been protecting him since the day he was born.

Timothy is the child foretold by an Indian prophesy. The arrival of Timothy’s 13th birthday during the last night of the “blood red moon,” will somehow forever end the curse of the werewolves. Skinwalkers will become wholly human. However, the werewolves who don’t see their condition as a curse and embrace the bloodlust have been lurking in the shadows. Led by Varek (Jason Behr), an evil pack of werewolves has been waiting for more than a decade to kill Timothy before he turns 13, and now they’re making their move. Jonas, Rachel, and a select group of fellow believers go on the run hoping to keep Tim just out of reach of the other werewolves until his birthday, but the relentless Varek practically has Timothy his bloody grasp.

What was supposed to be a 1 hour and 50 minute, R-rated movie was cut down to a 91 minute, PG-13 rated movie (although this movie still has enough blood, gore, violence, and simulated sex to have maintained it’s R-rating). Still, even with the obvious holes in the plot and story that come from removing 19 minutes of narrative, Skinwalkers is a very entertaining monster flick. It’s more fantasy and suspense thriller than horror, and though it doesn’t have the bite of such werewolf flicks as An American Werewolf in London or The Howling, Skinwalkers often packs a wallop. Its intricate back story and open-ended final scene leave room for sequels, but what it offers now is entertaining enough to make one pine for an “extended edition” DVD.

6 of 10
B

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez to Star in "Getaway"

(Selena Gomez and Ethan Hawke in a photograph from Dark Castle Entertainment and After Dark Films' upcoming feature, Getaway.  Photo by Simon Varsano.)

Filming is Underway on “Getaway”

Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez and Jon Voight star in the thriller from Dark Castle Entertainment and After Dark Films

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on Dark Castle Entertainment and After Dark Films’ high-octane action thriller “Getaway.”

The film stars Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke (“Training Day”), actress and international music sensation Selena Gomez (“Wizards of Waverly Place”), and Academy Award® winner Jon Voight (“Coming Home,” the “National Treasure” films).

Courtney Solomon (“An American Haunting”) and Yaron Levy (director of photography on “Transit”) are teaming to direct “Getaway.” Solomon is also producing the film, together with Moshe Diamant and Chris Milburn. The executive producers are Joel Silver, Alan Zeman and Steve Richards. The screenplay is by Gregg Maxwell Parker and Sean Finegan, with the latter also serving as co-producer.

Ethan Hawke plays Brent Magna, a burned out race car driver who is thrust into a do-or-die mission behind the wheel when his wife is kidnapped. With Brent’s only ally a young hacker (Selena Gomez), his one hope of saving his wife is to follow the orders of the mysterious voice (Jon Voight) who’s watching his every move through cameras mounted on the car Brent’s driving.

The behind-the-scenes team includes production designer Nate Jones, editor Ryan Dufrene, and costume designer Irene Kotcheva.

“Getaway” began shooting on location in Sofia, Bulgaria. Future filming will take place in the United States.

The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

New Sylvester Stallone Movie Begins Filming in Louisiana

Dark Castle Entertainment to Partner with IM Global and After Dark Films on New Sylvester Stallone Action Thriller

- The project re-teams producer Joel Silver with Stallone and with director Walter Hill -

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dark Castle Entertainment will partner with IM Global and After Dark Films on director Walter Hill’s upcoming action thriller starring Sylvester Stallone, it was announced today jointly by the three companies.

The film is scheduled to begin production on location in Louisiana later this month and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, under its ongoing arrangement with Dark Castle.

Based on the graphic novel Bullet to the Head, written by Matz and illustrated by Colin Wilson, it tells the story of a New Orleans hitman (Stallone) and a New York City cop who form an alliance to bring down the killers of their respective partners.

Joel Silver, Chairman of Dark Castle Entertainment, previously produced the Stallone films “Demolition Man” and “Assassins.” He says, “Sylvester Stallone is an iconic action star the world over and I’m thrilled to be working with him again. I look forward to joining with IM Global and After Dark in bringing this exciting new story to the screen.”

Says IM Global CEO Stuart Ford, “Joel and his Dark Castle team are the perfect partners to help steer a project like this successfully forward and we’re delighted to have them onboard, as well as having Warner Bros. as the U.S. distribution home for the film.”

Silver’s previous creative collaborations with veteran director Hill include the box-office hit “48 Hours,” “Warriors” and HBO’s long-running “Tales from the Crypt.”

The new film, a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Dark Castle Entertainment, IM Global and After Dark Films, also features rising star Sung Kang (“Fast Five,” “Ninja Assassin”) in a key supporting role. Additionally serving as producers will be Alexandra Milchan, Miles Millar, Alfred Gough, Kevin King-Templeton and Andrew Rona. Stuart Ford, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Deepak Nayar, Courtney Solomon, Allan Zeman and Steve Richards will executive produce.