In every man there exists a point where temptation breaches the moral strength and character of an individual and pushes will power to the limit. Imagine a world where the line between wrong and right remains in focus, but the consequences are determined by a law superior to all.
Welcome to the world of secret societies. Among the Ivy Leagues, there is a secret and unspoken world of the elite. The secret societies resemble fraternities only in the fact that the members are strictly male. Their existence is known by all but no one knows of the goings-on of the society or the identity of its members.
Directed by Rob Cohen, The Skulls tells the story of one such society. Based on urban facts of actual secret societies, The Skulls tells the story of Luke McNamara’s (Joshua Jackson) initiation into the top secret society on campus, the Skulls.
McNamara’s “townie” background hinders his law school dreams. His academic career is characterized by hard work, student loans and a series of part-time jobs. Although he captains the championship crew team and earns good grades, he knows that it’s going to take something more to land acceptance at a top law school. Unlike many of his fellow students, McNamara doesn’t have the funding or connections to achieve his dreams.
Luke believes that his only hope is the Skulls. The rumor is that a Skull membership means money and connections. For McNamara this means law school and success. After being “tapped” for membership, he begins his rebirthing process as a Skull.
Unfortunately, Luke’s friends Chloe (Leslie Bibb) and Will Beckford (Hill Harper) are apprehensive about sharing in his excitement. In the words of Beckford, his best friend and roommate, “If it’s secret and it’s elite, it can’t be good.” As McNamara begins initiation he soon learns how true his friend’s warning is.
Every Skull is paired with a soulmate to serve as a companion and confidant. For McNamara, this man is Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker), a fifth generation Skull. Together, the two experience the perks and historic rituals of the society as initiates.
The Skulls aren’t the only secret on campus. Will Beckford, an up-and-coming journalist, plans to write an expose` of the Skull’s secret rituals. He has been undergoing investigations and finally obtains entrance to the house, and that’s when the trouble starts.
In an instant, McNamara’s dream world turns upside down. His best friend ends up dead, and the perfect world of the Skulls no longer seems so wonderful. McNamara learns the true meaning of the society’s creed “We live by the rules. We die by the rules” and the nature of Beckford’s death.
From this point, the movie earns its entrance into the thriller genre. Conspiracies emerge in every circle ,and McNamara finds himself running for his life.
The movie’s ending twists and turns at every stop as McNamara learns the price of success. He runs from a classic steamy shower scene with friend and secret love, Chloe, to a corrupt police station, to a forced psychiatric admittance. In the end, McNamara’s morals triumph in the twisted world of the Skulls.
The Skulls takes an urban fact and runs with it in an entertaining thriller. From it’s base in actual fact arise questions about the mechanics of elite society. As the opening statement “at least three US Presidents are known to have been members” scrolls across the screen, it’s impossible not top doubt the influence this group has had on government and politics not (to enter the mind).
“If it’s secret and it’s elite, it can’t be good.”
