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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Caroline Ellis
Violet Devereaux
Ben Devereaux
Luke
Jill
Mama Cynthia
News & Interviews for The Skeleton Key
Critic Reviews for The Skeleton Key
All Critics (154) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (96)
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A blundering New Orleans-set thriller under the spell of archaic stereotypes about Southern Bayou blacks.
August 26, 2005 | Rating: C | Full Review… -
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… -
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 -
A top-notch cast was gathered and then wasted in this atmospheric but prosaic hoodoo spooker.
August 14, 2005 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review… -
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 -
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
Audience Reviews for The Skeleton Key
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Feb 22, 2013The 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
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Jul 31, 2011I 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
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Jul 13, 2011Ripper of an ending but everything before it is a boreBrendan N Super Reviewer
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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
The Skeleton Key Quotes
Caroline Ellis: | I'm going into town for a while. Shopping. |
Violet Devereaux: | For what, Caroline? Caroline! For what? |
Caroline Ellis: | You'll just have to see. |
Caroline Ellis: | I saw the room. |
Violet Devereaux: | What room? |
Caroline Ellis: | The room you said you've never seen. |
Violet Devereaux: | Caroline!!!... |
Violet Devereaux: | Caroline! |
Caroline Ellis: | I don't believe! |
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