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Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt, Joy Bryant ... see more see more... , Isaach De Bankolé , Ronald McCall , Jen Apgar , Jamie Lee Redmon , Forrest Landis , Maxine Barnett , Tom Uskali , Jeryl Prescott Sales , Ann Dalrymple , Deneen Tyler , Fahnlohnee Harris , Marion Zinser

A young woman discovers a terrible secret while caring for an elderly man in this supernatural thriller. Caroline (Kate Hudson) is a care provider for the aged who is hired away from the hospice where... read more read more... she works by Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands). Violet needs someone to help take care of her husband, Ben (John Hurt), who is in poor health and doesn't have long to live. Violet and Ben live in a decaying rattletrap mansion not far from New Orleans, and as she settles into her work, Caroline spends her spare time exploring the house. It isn't long before Caroline discovers evidence that suggests Ben and Violet are members of a sinister voodoo cult, and that ghosts walk in the Devereaux mansion. The Skeleton Key also stars Peter Sarsgaard and Joy Bryant. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

173,026 ratings

Critics

37% liked it

147 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Iain Softley

Release Date: August 12, 2005

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DVD Release Date: November 15, 2005

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Stats: 8,426 reviews

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The Skeleton Key The Skeleton Key Kate Hudson @ a Premiere The Skeleton Key The Skeleton Key The Skeleton Key The Skeleton Key The Skeleton Key Frazier Hicks Jr. The record Look and see! Luke Marshall Caroline Ellis . Kate Hudson, Peter Sarsgaard and Gena Rowlands Luke Marshall
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Flixster Reviews (8,426)

  • jmanard52
    June 29, 2008
    jmanard52
    Creepy movie with some nice twists.
  • spielberg00
    October 18, 2011
    spielberg00
    A great, superior horror flick. [FULL REVIEW: COMING SOON.]
  • blkbomb
    July 24, 2011
    blkbomb
    Violet Devereaux: We've been waiting for you, Caroline. 

    "You Will Believe"

    The Skeleton Key is a pretty creepy and completely atmospheric supernatural thriller. I wouldn't say it is all that scary, but it definitely has it's moments. One thing it always is though; is interesti... read moreng. The movie has a really cool and interesting premise. 

    Caroline takes a job as a hospice worker in the deep south, where she isn't from. She's from New Jersey; The Garden State. An old married couple require her services. One of them, Ben, just had a stroke and can't move or talk. The other, Violet, is a grieving wife who is about to lose her husband. Another character who Caroline meets is the couples lawyer, Luke. He's a pretty friendly guy who seems to take an interest in Caroline. The story really starts when Caroline notices some weird things in the house, such as a Hoodoo room. Also, there are no mirrors in the house and Violet will not allow her to put one up.The story takes some unexpected twists and turns as it comes to a pretty cool and satisfying conclusion in my book. 

    It is a movie that I think most will either love or hate and from the reviews it seems that way. I really love this movie though. It has a really fun premise and remains completely engrossing the entire time. The cast is pretty good too. I always like Peter Saarsgard and he's pretty good here, with his down South accent. Kate Hudson is passable in the lead role. But Gena Rowlands really steals the show as Violet and John Hurt gives a pretty good performance as a man that doesn't even talk, except for one exception. 

    What really wins this movie over for me is the atmosphere. The setting is in a old creepy looking house in the swamps of Louisiana. The mood throughout the whole movie is heavy and dark and justifiably so. This may not crate new standards for the thriller or horror genres, but it did manage to be a thoroughly enjoyable ghost story.
  • stevenecarrier
    July 9, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    "The Skeleton Key" is certainly goofy and the various filters and morphing effects used to create 'creepy' images add a high level of camp, but the story itself is so interesting it helps pull the film through. The Hoodoo storyline is fun and the ending is suitably dark. The perf... read moreormances are serviceable with Kate Hudson delivering a believable turn. "The Skeleton Key" is rather straightforward when it comes down to it, but it has small, moody moments that make it slightly better than the rest.
  • SirPant
    May 4, 2011
    SirPant
    Iain Softley did well to get such a good cast for The Skeleton Key but quite frankly Gena Rowlands, John Hurt and even Peter Sarsgaard are better than this. Although that's not quite fair of me to say, as I'm always saying that if you want to make a good horror film you need good... read more actors and that certainly is the case here. The films main fault really is the slow pace of the first two-thirds, it's riddled with cliches and is more than a little dull. Where The Skeleton Key really redeems itself though is at the end, the twist is very satisfactory and breath of fresh air compared to the majority of waste of time horror films of the last decade. It's more thriller than horror though really and nothing like The Ring as it tries to suggest. Still worth a watch though!
  • ythelastman89
    October 16, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Such a cool movie and I love the inclusion of Hoodoo into the plot. The story and characters are so interesting on their own, but given the New Orleans backdrop it's even more effective. Sure it plays like a traditional mystery, but the final outcome is completely original and on... read moree of the better twist scenarios. Kate Hudson pulled of a serious lead without any effort and Gena Rowlands was extremely creepy and bizarre.
  • garyX
    October 6, 2010
    garyX
    A young care worker takes a live in job looking after an elderly lady's ailing husband but comes to suspect that she is the one responsible for his condition. As the DVD cover screamed "FROM THE WRITER OF THE RING"!!!! I was pretty sure what to expect from this film, but it actua... read morelly doesn't really fall into the generic J horror category at all. Having some of the feel of the "enemy within" Hitchcock thrillers such as Suspicion and Rebecca, it also has a some nice local deep southern colour, the photography is quite atmospheric and although it isn't exactly full of surprises, there are enough twists and turns to keep your interest. Not exactly a cornucopia of originality and invention but it is a decent piece of Twilight Zonery that's a lot better than the similar The Others.
  • MizturY0da
    September 8, 2010
    MizturY0da
    2 stars
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 9, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Skeleton Key is a superb film with a terrific story. Having low expectations before watching this film, I thought I would be disappointed once the film would be over. To my surprise, it was a disappointment at all. Though not flawless, the film is better than most horror film... read mores released nowadays, and in the end it is one of the better horror films of this decade. Considering that most Hollywood studios want to remake classic horror films, The Skeleton Key offers a breath of fresh air for fans who seek decent horror. Personally I thought it was a superb film simply because of the solid story. Kate Hudson delivers her second best performance of her career, the first being Almost Famous. The Skeleton Key is a creepy film, but overall it's a fresh new take on a tired out genre where remakes dominate cinemas. Skeleton Key is the type of film that you either love it or hate it. I loved it and I thought it was an original horror film long overdue.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 23, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    It had an interesting ending, but that's about it.

View All The Skeleton Key Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
August 15, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

This is a moody, creepy thriller with some genuinely scary moments and a couple of twists that took me completely by surprise. Full Review

Jen Chaney
August 12, 2005
Jen Chaney, Washington Post

The Skeleton Key delivers on all formulaic counts, except one: It never serves up any truly nightmare-inspiring scares. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
August 12, 2005
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

A diverting, stylish thriller that, despite pivoting on that and other whoppers, deserves credit for creating an authentic, original vibe. Full Review

August 12, 2005
USA Today

This is essentially a haunted-house horror flick that starts off with effectively eerie scenes but devolves into a forced and mildly ridiculous ghost story. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 12, 2005
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Criminal waste of talent. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
August 12, 2005
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

A well-intentioned horror film that is weighted down by stellar cast members who for the most part act as if they don't want to be there. Full Review

Steven Rea
August 12, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

The film offers a rich gumbo of menace, mystery and magic - and then lets it go cold and mushy in a rainstorm of Hollywood haunted-house huggermugger.

Roger Moore
August 12, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The Skeleton Key is a hoodoo puzzle that's more interesting than scary. Full Review

Lisa Rose
August 12, 2005
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

It's basically Rosemary's Baby, Cajun style, with a pinch of Amityville Horror for kick. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
August 12, 2005
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The Skeleton Key is strictly summer schlock.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Skeleton Key Trivia

  • Who played in the 2005 movie The Skeleton Key?  Answer »
  • What book is Caroline (Kate Hudson) reading to Mr. Talcott in 'The Skeleton Key'?  Answer »
  • Which Actress Was: -Helen Harris In Raising Helen -Andie Anderson In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days -Penny Lane In Almost Famous -Molly Peterson In You Me And Dupree -Caroline Ellis In The Skeleton Key  Answer »
  • Who plays Caroline in The Skeleton Key?  Answer »
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