The Skeleton Key

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The Skeleton Key

PG-13

Released Aug 12, 2005

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Popcornmeter

37%

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154 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

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

Rated: C

Aug 26, 2005

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

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.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 20, 2005

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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.

Aug 15, 2005

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The supernatural element extends beyond what's taking place on the screen, as it appears that Rowlands, delivering a performance of high camp, has been possessed by What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?-era Bette Davis.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 17, 2021

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

It is much more difficult to decide whether The Skeleton Key is mildly offensive or nicely provocative - or for that matter if it is dreadfully silly or actually quite smart.

Rated: 6/10

May 8, 2021

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Mark H. Harris

Black Horror Movies

Ever since The Sixth Sense, thriller "twists" have become increasingly lame and pointless, but in The Skeleton Key, it actually works quite well.

Rated: 3.8/5

Jan 6, 2020

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Jenesis J

This movie deserves more credit than it gets. It’s an entertaining psychological thriller that keeps you asking questions. I had hoped for a different ending, but honestly, it didn’t ruin the whole movie like many horror/thriller movies do. It kept to the story and actually made sense.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Chief B

I can't believe how the ratings of a good movie can have it so wrong. I don't want to use the word underrated BUT this movie is very underrated and I know quite some folk that do love it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

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Silent N

Very bad ending 👎👎

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Horror fan 4

Kate Hudson gives a swell performance and some decent jump scares make this a worthy watch. Tim Treakle

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Jacob M

I adore this movie.....The beautiful cinematography and setting almost make you feel the sweaty, humid weather of the south. Also, one of the most satisfying twists.....great flick.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

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Drew B

I'm really shocked to see how low this movie has been reviewed. The actors are brilliant & the thick New Orleans atmosphere from the music to the set itself are a winning combination. But the climax builds throughout the entire movie. I love how the house & its history are themselves characters. The conclusion is one that I've never seen in a movie, which itself earns the film points with me. I'm a sucker for a conclusion I didn't see coming because that is so rare. An altogether unique concept. I loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

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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

2:02

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Ghost in the Mirror

1:41

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Get Me Out of Here!

2:47

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Crawling Away

2:47

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - The Body Stealers

2:15

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Chased by Conjurers

2:18

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Performing the Ritual

1:47

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Dark Magic History

3:20

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Escaping the House

3:30

The Skeleton Key: Official Clip - Hoodoo Attic

2:52

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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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