The Skeleton Key

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The Skeleton Key

PG-13

2005

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Popcornmeter

38%

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157 Reviews

58%

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100,000+ Ratings

Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson), a good-natured nurse living in New Orleans, quits her job at a hospice to work for Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands), an elderly woman whose husband, Ben (John Hurt), is in poor health following a stroke. When Caroline begins to explore the couple's rundown Bayou mansion, she discovers strange artifacts and learns the house has a mysterious past. As she continues to investigate, she realizes that Violet is keeping a sinister secret about the cause of Ben's illness.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to its creaky and formulaic script, The Skeleton Key is more mumbo-jumbo than hoodoo and more dull than scary.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

08/26/2005

C

A blundering New Orleans-set thriller under the spell of archaic stereotypes about Southern Bayou blacks.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

08/20/2005

2/4

Blame screenwriter Ehren Kruger (Arlington Road). I can't tell if this hit-and-miss scribe is a remarkably talented guy who's unfortunately had a few misfires or if his few good scripts were just the result of a large amount of blind luck.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

08/15/2005

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

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Nov 20

3.5/5

It's not a great film, but it is a highly enjoyable one, particularly when Hudson and Rowlands go at each other. The twisty climax is genuinely difficult to predict on a first time watch, even if the film's racial implication are dicey

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Nov 17

3/5

The Skeleton Key hasn't aged as poorly as one might think, given the racial politics at play, and it's worth a watch for Gena Rowlands' sinister performance alone.

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Brooke Obie

Black Girl Watching

Oct 28

The worst horror movie I’ve ever seen. Kate Hudson, you are going to jail! Ehren Kruger won a Razzie for Worst Screenplay for the wrong movie. The Skeleton Key is so devious and underhanded in its anti-Blackness and it should haunt Kruger forever.

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Wendel L

@BRZRKR Jun 21

Direção: Ok Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Ok Caracterização: Bom Soundtrack: Ok

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Hero Cabusao T

@RT33910453 Apr 5

A good horror movie. I liked the acting, the atmosphere, and especially the plot fucking twist! I really liked the movie, idk why some ppl are hating on it

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Rusty S.

@RustyShackleford Mar 26

Great watch. Don’s listen to the haters.

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Jalvzz ..

@jalvzz Feb 24

Good watch voodo and black magic mind boggle

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Dec 11

The Skeleton Key is an atmospheric supernatural thriller that, while imperfect, still manages to be entertaining and engaging. The screenplay has moments that feel uneven or misplaced, occasionally pulling you out of the story, but the film’s eerie tone keeps it afloat. Kate Hudson delivers a strong, committed performance that brings fear, curiosity, and emotional depth to her character, making her the anchor of the entire film. The supporting cast enhances the unsettling environment through subtle tension and careful delivery. The director ties the visual style and pacing together well, creating a moody Southern Gothic setting that becomes one of the film’s strongest elements. Even though the script could benefit from tighter structure, the film offers enough suspense, mystery, and atmosphere to keep viewers invested. It’s not flawless, but it’s a spooky and enjoyable watch worth checking out for fans of supernatural thrillers.

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Stacey K

@RT31586170 Nov 12

The movie is okay. I remember when I first saw it I thought it was alright, the acting is good, the concept is good but it felt a little hollow. It felt like the parts of the movie were there just to make it something but it still felt hollow. As I get older though I STILL think of this movie as it is one of the only movies that addresses magic and it's belief in it as a negative. Most movies have magic saves the day, magic sets you free. In this one, magic is a trap you create for yourself. I was thinking of it in reference to the natives selling all their land for a dollar, and at first they didn't believe but they were convinced and it trapped them. It was just a piece of paper. So, it would have been a 2 or 3 but now I think it's 4.

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Iain Softley

Director

Kate Hudson

Caroline Ellis

Gena Rowlands

Violet Devereaux

John Hurt

Ben Devereaux

Peter Sarsgaard

Luke

Joy Bryant

Jill

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - It Doesn't Work If You Don't Believe

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The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Dark Magic History

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Synopsis

Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson), a good-natured nurse living in New Orleans, quits her job at a hospice to work for Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands), an elderly woman whose husband, Ben (John Hurt), is in poor health following a stroke. When Caroline begins to explore the couple's rundown Bayou mansion, she discovers strange artifacts and learns the house has a mysterious past. As she continues to investigate, she realizes that Violet is keeping a sinister secret about the cause of Ben's illness.

Director: Iain Softley
Producer: Daniel Bobker, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Screenwriter: Ehren Kruger
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Double Feature Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Partial Nudity|Disturbing Images|Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.8M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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