Skinwalkers

Sporting the considerable cachet of Robert Redford as executive producer, this first in a line of proposed adaptations of Tony Hillerman novels premiered on the acclaimed PBS Mystery series. Skinwalkers stars Wes Studi (The Last of the Mohicans, Dances with Wolves) as Joe Leaphorn and Adam Beach (Windtalkers, Smoke Signals) as Jim Chee, Navajo tribal policemen who are after a murderous “skinwalker”--an Indian with the preternatural capability to shift from man to animal. Hillerman fans may not be pleased with the shifting around of character traits from the book to the screen, but the uninitiated won't be bothered with such comparisons and will simply enjoy a novel twist on the old tried-and-true cop formula. A strong optional purchase. (T. Rich)