Are you a fan of grannies dual-fisting Glocks? Are you okay with your good guys going full stormtrooper aim against bad guys standing stationary in a wide-open space in broad daylight? How about sick-ass bad-guy montages with sunglasses and motorcycles? What about poorly explained plots? If so, you’re in luck! And if not, I’d still recommend giving this movie a watch. Not because it’s a good movie… it is, in fact, a terrible movie. But because it’s dumb fun.
Skinwalkers 2006 is a perfect movie for a number of different situations:
- You’ve got a date night planned but don’t plan on doing much actual movie watching.
- You’ve got friends that also love watching terrible movies and want to have a fun night.
- You work from home and love to have something on in the background that you can enjoy while not really caring about paying too much attention.
Now, if you’re looking to find that hidden old horror cinematic masterpiece, maybe keep moving along. I’m going to avoid any big plot spoilers here (not that I think it would matter)… but the skinwalkers are actually just werewolves. Red moon changes them, they get all hairy with elongated jaws and teeth. When I think of skinwalkers, I think of people who wear other people’s “skin.” I was expecting a movie where the bad guys could be anyone… including one of us (dun dun dunnnnn!). But no, they’re just scary dog people who die from silver bullets.
Deeper Plot Breakdown
Directed by James Isaac, Skinwalkers 2006 follows 12-year-old Timothy (Matthew Knight), who has no idea about his extraordinary lineage. As he approaches his 13th birthday, Timothy is protected by his mother, Rachel (Rhona Mitra), and his uncle Jonas (Elias Koteas), along with a group of benevolent werewolves who view their condition as a curse. They believe Timothy holds the key to ending their lycanthropic affliction.
On the flip side, a malevolent pack of werewolves, led by Varek (Jason Behr), thrives on their animalistic instincts and is determined to stop the prophecy at all costs. The film unfolds as a battle between these two factions, with Timothy’s fate hanging in the balance. Along the way, there are plenty of dramatic standoffs, shootouts that make no sense, and characters making decisions so dumb you start wondering if werewolf brain rot is a thing.
This should be a tense, action-packed horror flick, but instead, we get long stretches of melodramatic brooding, meaningless dialogue, and characters that feel like they wandered onto the wrong movie set. The film doesn’t really seem to know what it wants to be – supernatural horror? Action thriller? A drama about family betrayal? It dabbles in all of them and masters none.
Character Analysis: Who Are These People?
- Jason Behr as Varek – The big bad. Broods a lot, stares menacingly, and has exactly one facial expression. A werewolf leader who seems less interested in actually hunting his enemies and more in posing dramatically on his motorcycle.
- Elias Koteas as Jonas – The rugged, tortured uncle. He’s the leader of the good werewolves and wants to protect Timothy. You’ll spend half the movie wondering why an actor as solid as Koteas is in this.
- Rhona Mitra as Rachel – The worried mother. She gives off big “I’m the only one taking this seriously” energy, which makes the absurdity around her even funnier. She does her best to shield Timothy, despite being surrounded by allies whose shooting skills are embarrassingly bad.
- Matthew Knight as Timothy – The kid who’s supposed to be special but mostly just looks confused. If you’re expecting a compelling child protagonist, you won’t find one here.
The problem isn’t just bad acting – it’s that the characters are written with so little depth that it’s impossible to care about them. The villains are generic bad guys who growl and shoot things, while the heroes are noble idiots who keep making dumb decisions that prolong their suffering.
How Does It Compare to Other Werewolf Movies?
If Skinwalkers 2006 had leaned harder into being a full-blown action-horror flick, it could have been Underworld‘s trashier cousin. Instead, it exists in a weird middle ground where it does nothing particularly well. So where does it stand in the werewolf movie hierarchy?
- Better Werewolf Films to Watch Instead:
- Dog Soldiers (2002) – If you want a real werewolf action movie, this is it. Soldiers vs. werewolves in a high-stakes siege scenario with great practical effects and actually likable characters.
- Ginger Snaps (2000) – A werewolf film that actually has a unique take, focusing on lycanthropy as a metaphor for puberty. Smart, darkly funny, and genuinely unsettling.
- An American Werewolf in London (1981) – The gold standard. Incredible transformation scene, fantastic balance of horror and humor, and a story that actually makes sense.
- The Howling (1981) – If you want solid werewolf horror with a great aesthetic, look no further.
If you insist on watching another Skinwalkers-level werewolf movie, you’re can check out Cursed (2005), which also knows it’s dumb but fun.
Personal Viewing Experience: How to Get the Most Out of This Dumpster Fire
So, you’ve decided to watch Skinwalkers 2006 anyway? Fine. Here are some ways to make it a better experience:
- Turn it into a drinking game: Take a shot every time a character stares intensely into the distance for no reason. Double shot if it’s Varek.
- Watch it with friends: This movie is infinitely better when you can laugh at it with people. The dialogue, the bad aim, the weird slow-motion shots – it all makes for a great comedy.
- Make bets on who dies next: Spoiler: It’s usually the person who just got a dramatic moment.
Final Verdict
Look, this is not a good werewolf movie. But it’s also not the worst thing you could watch. If you’re in the mood for mindless, over-the-top action with some half-baked horror elements, it’ll do the job. Just don’t expect The Howling – expect a SyFy Channel-tier action flick with werewolves that spend more time using guns than claws.
Final Score: 4/10 – Bad, but entertaining if you know what you’re getting into.
Where to Watch Skinwalkers 2006 Film For Free
If you’re interested in watching Skinwalkers (2006) for free, here are some platforms where it’s currently available:
- Tubi TV: Available to stream for free with ads. tubitv.com (This is where I watched the movie)
- Plex: Watch for free with ads. watch.plex.tv
Please note that streaming availability can change over time and may vary based on your location. It’s advisable to check these platforms directly for the most current information. You can also look at the JustWatch Skinwalkers Page for more resources.
