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

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

Rated: C

Aug 26, 2005

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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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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

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

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 20, 2025

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

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.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2025

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Brooke Obie

Black Girl Watching

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.

Oct 28, 2025

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Stacey K

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Chase G.

The low ratings for this one is perplexing. Very atmospheric. Solid acting. And one of the best twist endings out there!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/25

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Jo P

Is this a great horror movie? Absolutely not lol. But it is really creepy and the great performances make it very watchable. I’ve gone back to it a few times over the years.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

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William

I can’t believe this movie has such a low rating. We really enjoy it. It’s more clever with a real story and a spooky ghost story vibe versus just some slasher film. The story and characters are great and Gina Rowlands really steals the film. Love Kate Hudson in this its a film we revisit often especially around Halloween.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Rider W.

Loved the movie! Worth watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Chelsie G

Worth a watch if you’re looking for an atmospheric thriller. The New Orleans baylou setting is great. Storyline is above most modern day thrillers. I liked the voodoo witchiness of the plot but characters are never deep enough to get you fully bought in. Overall, I’d recommend watching it but probably not twice.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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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