IMDb > The Skeleton Key (2005)
The Skeleton Key
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The Skeleton Key (2005) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 101 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11)
The Skeleton Key (2005) -- A hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past.
The Skeleton Key (2005) -- Clip: Violet tells Caroline why she has no mirrors
The Skeleton Key (2005) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   27,092 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Ehren Kruger (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Skeleton Key on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 August 2005 (USA) more
Tagline:
It can open any door. more
Plot:
A hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(42 articles)
Competition: Win an iPod Nano with NBC Universal
 (From HeyUGuys. 27 October 2009, 8:33 AM, PDT)

Ehren Kruger is Sole Writer For "Transformers 3"
 (From Reel Empire. 7 October 2009, 8:13 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
still spooked by the ending more (335 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kate Hudson ... Caroline Ellis

Gena Rowlands ... Violet Devereaux

John Hurt ... Ben Devereaux

Peter Sarsgaard ... Luke Marshall

Joy Bryant ... Jill
Maxine Barnett ... Mama Cynthia
Fahnlohnee R. Harris ... Hallie (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
Marion Zinser ... Bayou Woman

Deneen Tyler ... Desk Nurse

Ann Dalrymple ... C.N.A.
Trula M. Marcus ... Nurse Trula (as Trula Marcus)

Tonya Staten ... Nurse Audrey

Thomas Uskali ... Robertson Thorpe (as Tom Uskali)

Jen Apgar ... Madeleine Thorpe

Forrest Landis ... Martin Thorpe
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, some partial nudity and thematic material.
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Felicity Plantation in St. James Parish, Louisiana, was used as the Devereaux house. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the end of the movie Caroline is brought into the house by Luke. She has her hands tied behind her back and has mascara streaking down her face. When we see her again, the streaks are not running down her face but just around her eyes, yet she has no hands free to wipe them off. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Caroline Ellis: [reading from Treasure Island] I lost no time, of course, in telling my mother all that I knew, and we saw ourselves at once in a difficult and dangerous position. Something must speedily be resolved upon, and it occurred to us at last to go forth together and seek help in the neighboring hamlet...
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.46)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Think Louie more

FAQ

What was the purpose of the "remedies" that Violet was giving to Ben?
Will there be a sequel?
What's up with the mirrors?
more
137 out of 191 people found the following comment useful.
still spooked by the ending, 12 August 2005
9/10
Author: aharmas from United States

Part of the success of this type of movie is setting up and making sure its resolution lives up to its expectations. I must say that in this film everything seems to work, and yet... I'm not sure what spooked more: its ending or the nature of its ending.

The film deals with the adventures of a young care worker in the middle of Louisiana. The atmospheric surroundings, the haunting score, beautiful, spooky photography, and some very good acting by Rowlands and Kate Hudson raise the bar for upcoming "horror films". We're glued to the screen for nearly two hours, as things become more mysterious and intriguing. A few times we're treated to a jolt and a revelation, but what closes the film is bound to ruffle a few feathers.

Above all, this is a very good movie, with a script that doesn't cheat anyone and doesn't rely on silly gimmicks. Those factors should portend good tidings for its success in its original release, but it will probably become a classic of its kind. The heroine in distress manages to be smarter than the usual stereotype. She wants to explore the surroundings and solve the problem. The problem is she has no idea how bad the situation might be.

Gena Rowlands provides her character with nuances rarely seen in this type of film. She is a strange character and hooks up the audience from the very beginning. There is no really an archetype for what Rowlands brings to life. A few might find the previous statement questionable, but if you look closely to the development of her character, it is almost an original.

Kate Hudson makes a very strong impression in this film. She goes beyond the pretty actress to an accomplished performer who matches up to Rowland's intensity. She navigates the film with an ease rarely seen in today's roster of plastic pre-packaged pseudo celebrities. It is refreshing to see an actress make you care for the character that has so often been portrayed as an offensive stereotype. There no gratitude's screaming scenes here. The film reminds me of "The Others", a movie with substance and intelligence.

This is a film that I will highly recommend to my friends, particularly because I want to hear what they have to say about that ending.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Skeleton Key (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
SPOILER ALERT! The old couple at the end travellingmick
biggest pile of poo I ever saw Mary_Morgan98
music in the trailer kyaf05
Something I just realized about the ending (Spoilers) fongrice
Anybody else think this movie was scary as hell? osbournesfan808
Creepier and creepier...incest? babyjuggler
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