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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. Read critic reviews

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The Skeleton Key Photos

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Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Some Partial Nudity|Disturbing Images|Thematic Material|Violence)
  • Genre:
    horror, mystery and thriller
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Iain Softley
  • Producer:
    Daniel Bobker, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
  • Writer:
    Ehren Kruger
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $47.8M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Double Feature Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Kate Hudson
Caroline Ellis
Gena Rowlands
Violet Devereaux
John Hurt
Ben Devereaux
Peter Sarsgaard
Luke
Joy Bryant
Jill
Maxine Barnett
Mama Cynthia
Tom Uskali
Robertson Thorpe
Jen Apgar
Madeleine Thorpe
Forrest Landis
Martin Thorpe
Jamie Lee Redmon
Redmon
Clayton Townsend
Executive Producer
Daniel Bobker
Producer
Michael Shamberg
Producer
Stacey Sher
Producer
Iain Softley
Director
Ehren Kruger
Writer
Ronna Kress
Casting Director
Holly Bario
Executive Producer
Scott Stuber
Executive Producer
Ed Shearmur
Original Music
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Critic Reviews for The Skeleton Key

All Critics (155) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (96)

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

    August 26, 2005 | Rating: C | Full Review…

    Nick Schager

    Lessons of Darkness

  • 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.

    August 20, 2005 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Sara Michelle Fetters

    MovieFreak.com

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

    August 15, 2005

    Richard Roeper

    Ebert & Roeper

  • A top-notch cast was gathered and then wasted in this atmospheric but prosaic hoodoo spooker.

    August 14, 2005 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Marjorie Baumgarten

    Austin Chronicle

  • Skeleton Key is for the most part neither horrifying nor thrilling, and its mystery is mostly related to trying to figure out what the filmmakers were thinking.

    August 14, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

    Tim Cogshell

    Boxoffice Magazine

  • The meandering, but occasionally effective film relies on a semi-logical and semi-satisfying twist ending to patch over myriad flaws in logic and storytelling.

    August 13, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Dan Fienberg

    Zap2it.com
View All Critic Reviews (155)

Audience Reviews for The Skeleton Key

  • Feb 22, 2013
    The twist was great, curiosity kills the cat. Quite a unique film as you never know what's going to happen. Not very well acted, but it had a decent plot and set.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Jul 31, 2011
    I love New Orleans. I hate Kate Hudson. To my surprise I wasn't aware Hudson was in this. 'Skeleton Key' had a chance at being a great horror film (the gothic Orleans, the shrieking and creepy house, the premise is a nice twist on haunted house flicks) but it was predictable tantamount to watching your young kid try to arrange letters and you just want to scream 'IT'S G NEXT!". The second we hear the backstory it gives away a clue instantly and if you watch horror movies you know who is the true evil in about thirty minutes. With all the surprises drained from my viewing pleasure 'Skeleton Key' is a surprisingly, albeit overly cliche and predictable, suspenseful movie and the third act is taught and tense. Sadly, the third act and the fact it was shot in the glorious New Orleans cannot save the fact I guessed everything (accurately) in roughly thirty-minutes.
    Jonny B Super Reviewer
  • Jul 13, 2011
    Ripper of an ending but everything before it is a bore
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Jul 08, 2011
    "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 performances 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.
    Steven C Super Reviewer
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