American Mystery! Special: Skinwalkers
After the disappointingDark Wind, executive producer Robert Redford does Tony Hillerman justice with this authentic and ideally cast adaptation of the1986 bestsellerthat first paired Lt. Joe Leaphorn (Wes Studi ofDances with WolvesandThe Last of the Mohicans) and Officer Jim Chee (Adam Beach ofSmoke SignalsandWindtalkers) of the Navajo Tribal Police. Leaphorn, a veteran urban cop recently returned to the reservation, is Scully to Chee's Mulder as they investigate a series of murders seemingly committed by a "skinwalker," a shape-shifting evil spirit.Skinwalkerswas the first presentation of the venerable PBSMysteryseries to be set on United States soil. For Hillerman fans, and those new to his intimately observed world, this is good medicine.--Donald Liebenson