Skinwalkers (Lionsgate)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Film: C-

 

 

The werewolf film has been dead since Dog Soldiers and each new attempt is expected to only be worse.  The interesting thing about Jim Isaac’s Skinwalkers is how it was cut down to a PG-13, barely released in theaters and generally panned across the board.  Is it that bad, being censored or just not as bad as similar releases of late?

 

Well, the film wants to do for werewolves what From Dusk ‘Till Dawn did for vampires, yet not totally duplicate that now cult hit.  The difference is that a 13-year-old boy (a sort of Blade Jr. in the making) could change everything and in the meantime, the hunt is on for those who are werewolf as well as anyone who could turn into one.

 

Though ambitious even from this cut of the film, Isaac just cannot seem to do anything or go anywhere with his ambitions and the result is a film that is just all over the place.  If he tried to be more original than derivative, this might have been something, somehow.  Instead, the makeup looks fake, digital effects tired and the lack of character development is the final silver bullet that causes this to cave in faster than a haunted castle on fire.  Maybe a shot like that would have made this more interesting.

 

The DTS-ES 6.1 mix is limited in its soundfield, though this mix tries to spruce up what sound is there and the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX version is even weaker.  Extras include trailer, deleted scenes, making of featurette, digital FX piece and audio commentary by Isaac.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo