History Film / TheSkulls

* BigBrotherIsWatchingYou: Caleb warns--outright begs--Luke to stop digging into Will's death, telling him that both of their dorm rooms as well as that of Luke's friend Chloe are bugged and that The Skulls know what he's been up to.

* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: Subverted. Luke and Chloe stage an argument in which he dumps her--when they weren't even dating, just dealing with a lot of UnresolvedSexualTension--in order to make the Skulls think that she's no longer important to him.

* JerkassHasAPoint: When Ames Levritt refuses to go along with the plan to send Luke to a mental hospital, declaring, "I have my limits", Litten Mandrake scoffs, "Really?", then calls him out on his hypocrisy with proof of his extramarital affair, pointing out that these supposed "limits" don't include not sleeping with a 19-year old cheerleader.

* SchmuckBait: After Luke steals the incriminating tape, he's chased by the Skulls' mooks into a dark alley. At this point, they're ambushed by Luke's friends, revealing that it's actually he who lured them there

The film was critically panned, but successful enough to spawn two direct-to-video sequels, The Skulls II, directed by Joe Chappelle and starring Robin Dunne, Ashley Lyn Cafagna and The Skulls III, with Clare Kramer as the first woman member of the society.

* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Will.

* BlackBestFriend: Will
* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Will again.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: In the third film, protagonist Taylor Brooks campaigns to join the Skulls, pointing out that she has all the qualifications--along with her father having been a member-+and that if she were a man, there'd be no question. The leaders relent after warning her that she will be subjected to the same hazing as the male inductees. She succeeds, but of course, it was all a setup for the group's ominous intentions.

* IHaveThisFriend: Luke reconciles with Chloe using this line, even though they both know he's referring to himself.

* InterclassRomance: Luke offhandedly mentions that Chloe's rich, indicating that this is the reason he hasn't told her how he feels about her.

* RecycledInSPACE: Several film critics likened this movie to a college version of ''Film/TheFirm''.

''The Skulls'' is a 2000 American psychological thriller film starring Creator/JoshuaJackson, Creator/PaulWalker and Creator/LeslieBibb, directed by Creator/RobCohen. Its plot is based upon some of the conspiracy theories surrounding Yale University's Skull and Bones student society.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: In the third film, protagonist Taylor Brooks campaigns to join the Skulls, pointing out that she has all the qualifications and that if she were a man, there'd be no question. The leaders relent after warning her that she will be subjected to the same hazing as the male inductees. She succeeds, but of course, it was all a setup for the group's ominous intentions.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: A heroic version. It never seemed to occur to Levritt that the Skulls habit of monitoring their members--something he likely fully approved of and participated in--would come back to haunt until Mandrake presents him with photos of him and his 19-year old mistress.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Litten Mandrake, who has done numerous despicable things throughout the film, including allowing his son to think he was responsible for a murder ''he'' ordered, is utterly disgusted at co-conspirator--who is himself displaying this trope--Ames Levritt's choice of a lover, even while freely admitting to his own infidelities--"My God, Ames, she's only ''19!''

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Litten Mandrake, who has done numerous despicable things throughout the film, including allowing his son to think he was responsible for a murder ''he'' ordered, is utterly disgusted at co-conspirator--who is himself displaying this trope--Ames Levritt's choice of a lover, even while freely admitting to his own infidelities--"My God, Ames, she's only ''19!''"

* FrameUp: Taylor is framed for murder in the third film because the Skulls want her father, a prominent politician, in their pocket.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Litten Mandrake, who has done numerous despicable things throughout the film, including allowing his son to think he was responsible for a murder ''he'' ordered, is utterly disgusted at co-conspirator--who is himself displaying this trope--Ames Levritt's choice of a lover, even while freely admitting to his own infidelities--"My God, man, she's only ''19!''"

* FriendsRentControl: Luke, Chloe, and Will live in dorm rooms that are bigger and nicer than some people's apartments, even though it's repeatedly stated that Luke is struggling financially. And even with Chloe's wealth, the vast majority of dorm rooms simply do ''not'' look like that.