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The Skeleton Key (2005)

PG_13  104 min  -  Drama | Horror | Mystery   -  12 August 2005 (USA)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 42,183 users   Metascore: 47/100 
Reviews: 349 user | 178 critic | 32 from Metacritic.com

A hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past.

Director:

Iain Softley

Writer:

Ehren Kruger
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Related Videos

The Skeleton Key -- 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 -- Clip: Violet tells Caroline why she has no mirrors The Skeleton Key -- Clip: Violet Gives Caroline the Skeleton Key
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Hudson ...
Gena Rowlands ...
John Hurt ...
Ben Devereaux
Peter Sarsgaard ...
Joy Bryant ...
Jill
Maxine Barnett Maxine Barnett ...
Mama Cynthia
Fahnlohnee R. Harris Fahnlohnee R. Harris ...
Hallie (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
Marion Zinser Marion Zinser ...
Bayou Woman
Deneen Tyler ...
Desk Nurse
Ann Dalrymple ...
C.N.A.
Trula M. Marcus 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
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Storyline

A young woman helping care for an invalid in New Orleans finds herself caught in the middle of morbid going-ons centered around a group of Hoodoo practitioners. (Hoodoo is not Voodoo, it's of a different culture. Voodoo is Haitian while Hoodoo is an old African American magic that just like Voodoo only works if you believe in it.) Written by Ed  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Hoodoo | Attic | Skeleton Key | Key | Voodoo  | See more »

Taglines:

Fearing Is Believing See more »

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, some partial nudity and thematic material See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

UIP [Brazil] | UIP [Spain] | See more »

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | French

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Der verbotene Schlüssel See more »

Filming Locations:

Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$43,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£769,698 (UK) (31 July 2005) (354 Screens)

Gross:

$47,806,295 (USA) (23 October 2005)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS  | Dolby Digital  | SDDS

Color:

Black and White  | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Ronald McCall had to cut his dreadlocks to play the character of Papa Justify. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: When Caroline is reporting for her interview, she steps out of her car and walks up to the house for the first time. We see her back from the car's side mirror. In reality, the car is parked (and she walked) in a direction that would not allow her to be visible in the car's side mirror. See 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...
[...]
See more »


Soundtracks

"Do Whatcha Wanna"
Written by Keith Frazier, Philip Frazier, Kermit Ruffins
Performed by ReBirth Brass Band (as The Rebirth Brass Band) See more »