THE SKULLS
US, 2000, 107 minutes, Colour.
Paul Walker, Joshua Jackson, Hill Harper, Lesley Bibb, Christopher Mc Donald, Steve Harris, William Petersen, Craig T. Nelson.
Directed by Rob Cohen.
The Skulls is a story of academic secret societies. It is allegedly based on a secret society at Yale University (members of whom included the two George Bushes).
However, this film is a psychological thriller, a moral tale of ambition, greed, power. Joshua Jackson (of Dawson’s Creek and films like Gossip) is the young hero who is offered all the possibilities for power and wealth if he becomes part of the Skulls, the secret society at the university. He encounters the personification of charm (and evil) as portrayed by Paul Walker (who was to go on to star in the Too Fast, Too Furious series, Road Kill and Timeline). Hill Harper portrays the student journalist who happens into the mysteries of the secret society and is murdered. The film criticises power brokers in contemporary American society in the financial world and in the political worlds, especially with having William Petersen and Craig T. Nelson as two of the movers and shakers.
In the 80s, Franc Roddam made The Lords of Discipline, a very interesting film about such secret societies. The Skulls was directed by Rob Cohen (Daylight, The Bruce Lee Story, A Small Circle of Friends, Too Fast, Too Furious). The film was popular and led to a sequel, virtually a rerun of the same plot, Skulls 2.
1.Audience interest in this kind of intriguing story of secret societies? In contemporary America? In the Ivy League universities? Realistic or not? Possible or not?
2.The university campus, the colleges, the rooms, the secret rooms for meetings? The business world, the political world? An authentic atmosphere for this story? The musical score?
3.The credibility of the plot, the students, the nature of the secret society, its rituals and initiation, the use of power, violence and murder? The expose?
4.Luke Mc Namara, his poor background, at an Ivy League school? His skill in sports, visibility in his law studies? The invitation to join the Skulls, the induction ceremony? The reaction of Will, sharing the room with him, his friend, Chloe? The benefits of being in the secret society, money, the gift of the sports car? His meeting the senator, the background of the senator being a Skull? Caleb, his father being chairman of the society? His enjoying his privileges? His relationships with Will, Chloe, the impact of Will’s death? His discussions with Caleb, the story of the struggle? Luke and the surveillance tape, Caleb’s father and the order for murdering Will? The police, the investigation, the realisation that the police officer is part of the Skulls? The reaction, his being judged mentally unfit, going to the institution? The rescue of Luke, the help of the senator? The confrontation with Caleb, the challenge to a duel, Caleb shooting his father? Luke and his realisation that he was being used, by the senator? His refusal to continue in the Skulls? The possibility of a new life? The impact of the experience of what he learnt?
5.The contrast with Caleb, as a student, his presence at the university, in the Skulls? His relationship with his father, his father as chairman of the secret society? The confrontation with Will, the struggle? His clash with his father, his father using him? The challenge to the duel – and the surprise of Caleb shooting his father? The spoilt American and the importance of wealth and power?
6.Will, journalism, not eligible for the secret societies, his friendship with Luke, with Chloe? Suspicions, his research, secrecy, being discovered? The struggle with Caleb? His being murdered? Chloe, her friendship, suspicions, the possibilities of success for Luke, the change of heart, her confronting Caleb, the duel? A future with Luke?
7.The power brokers who had been in the society when they were students, and the world of politics, finance? Political struggles within the society? The character of Leverett? The character of Mandrake? External charm, gifts to students, using them? The build-up to the duel, the death of Mandrake? The senator, his seeming rescue of Luke? His own schemes for power?
8.The world of the university, the administration, the lecturers, the life of the university? Their attitudes towards the secret societies?
9.The secret societies themselves, their origins, purpose, advantage of students, elitism? The corruption of power? The audience enjoying knowing about secret societies – and then enjoying the exposure?
