The Skeleton Key (2005)

Director:

Iain Softley

Writer (WGA):

Ehren Kruger (written by)

Release Date:

12 August 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

It can open any door.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Hoodoo | Attic | Key | New Orleans | Voodoo

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, some partial nudity and thematic material.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:14 | Hong Kong:IIB | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Taiwan:R-12 | Belgium:KNT | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41757) | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13 | Australia:M | USA:R (original rating) | Sweden:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Czech Republic:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The swamp behind the Devereaux house was created with CGI effects. The actual house used in the film, Felicity Plantation, is situated inland in St. James Parish and is surrounded by farmland. The fictional Devereaux house was situated in Terrebonne Parish, which is coastal and swampy.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Caroline decides not to throw her patient's belongings in the trash container, the lid is lifted up (by an offscreen crewmember) before she grabs it in order to close it.

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...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Charlie Rose Show: (2005-08-10)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Je Crois Entendre Encore

Great acting and good ending

Having seen the lacklustre trailer for this film, I wouldn't have bothered to see it at the cinema if it wasn't for some very positive reviews here in the UK. It isn't the most original film and the ending, while good, isn't gob-smacking. But it is very well shot and has some strong acting performances in it. Kate Hudson is particularly good as the inquisitive nurse. Her character generally doesn't need to be told things twice and I liked the way her thought processes appeared logical. I felt like she was doing what I'd have done in her circumstances. I've never been to the Southern USA, but the sets and locations felt very atmospheric. I'm sure to folks from those parts it looked a bit hackneyed, but to a UK viewer it felt mysterious and brooding. Overall, a very enjoyable was to spend an hour and a half. See it in the cinema, as I feel that the pacing and atmosphere could be lost on a small screen in a living room.