The Skeleton Key (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

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

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 25

5:00 PM

USA

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
Jamie Lee Redmon	...	Grace Thorpe
Ronald McCall	...	Papa Justify
Jeryl Prescott	...	Mama Cecile (as Jeryl Prescott Sales)
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Creole Gas Station Owner
Christa Thorne	...	Creole Mother
Lakrishi Kindred	...	Frail Customer
Lawrence 'King' Harvey	...	Bar Man
Mark Krasnoff	...	Pickup Driver
Sabah	...	Luke's Secretary
Susannah Thorarinsson	...	Waitress in Bar
Bill H. McKenzie	...	Mr. Talcott
Joe Chrest	...	Paramedic
David Curtis	...	Party Guest
Tiffany Helland	...	Party Guest
Brian Ruppert	...	Party Guest (as Bryan Ruppert)
Philip Frazier	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Derek Shezbie	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Glen Andrews	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Stafford Agee	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Keith Frazier	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Derrick Tabb	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Shamarr Allen	...	Rebirth Brass Band (as Shamar Allen)
Byron Bernard	...	Rebirth Brass Band
Herbert Stevens	...	Rebirth Brass Band
George Harper	...	Jazz Band
Howard McCary	...	Jazz Band
Kevin O'Neal	...	Jazz Band
Ryan Porter	...	Jazz Band
Rudy Regalado	...	Jazz Band
Nolan Shaheed	...	Jazz Band
Dustin Fleetwood	...	3rd Infantry Band Member
Roderick Harrison	...	3rd Infantry Band Member
Torrey McKinley	...	3rd Infantry Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rico E. Anderson	...	Orderly in hospital (uncredited)
Andreas Beckett	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Pauline Boudreaux	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Kristi Chalaire	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Natasha Delahunt	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Ianello Garcino	...	Mama Cecile's Lyncher (uncredited)
Justin Groetsch	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Michael Tyler Henry	...	Older Martin (uncredited)
Korey L. Jarmon	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
David Jensen	...	Country doctor (uncredited)
Melissa Reneé Martin	...	Caviar Eating Guest (uncredited)
Natalie McNeil	...	Cigar Smoking Party Guest (uncredited)
Piper Moretti	...	1930s Party Guest (uncredited)
Sarah Pettycrew	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Ross Rouillier	...	Vigilante (uncredited)
Joel Schmidt	...	Terrebonne Sheriff (uncredited)
L.J. Stevens	...	Older Grace (uncredited)
Michael Wozniak	...	Lynch Group Leader (uncredited)

Directed by
Iain Softley

Writing credits (WGA)
Ehren Kruger		(written by)

Produced by
Daniel Bobker	....	producer
Michael Shamberg	....	producer
Stacey Sher	....	producer
Iain Softley	....	producer
Clayton Townsend	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Daniel Mindel		(director of photography) (as Dan Mindel)

Film Editing by
Joe Hutshing

Casting by
Ronna Kress

Production Design by
John Beard

Art Direction by
Drew Boughton

Set Decoration by
Fontaine Beauchamp Hebb		(as Beauchamp Fontaine)

Costume Design by
Louise Frogley

Makeup Department
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist: Ms. Hudson (as Kathryn L. Blondell)
June Brickman	....	makeup artist
Susan Germaine	....	key hair stylist
Mary Etta Lang	....	ager/dyer
Lucia Mace	....	hair stylist
Christina Smith	....	key makeup artist
Donna Spahn	....	hair stylist: New Orleans (as Donna Spahn-Jones)
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Hudson
Lee Grimes	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tania Blunden	....	post-production supervisor (as Tania Windsor Blunden)
Clayton Townsend	....	unit production manager
Gary R. Wordham	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jon Mallard	....	second assistant director
Gary Marcus	....	first assistant director (as Gary Scott Marcus)
Donald Murphy	....	first assistant director: second unit, New Orleans
Tyler Romary	....	second second assistant director (as Tyler T. Romary)
James Roque	....	second second assistant director: New Orleans (as James Roque Jr.)

Art Department
Dale E. Anderson	....	set dresser
Scott M. Anderson	....	set dresser
Fred Arbegast	....	head sculptor
Ronald S. Baratie	....	greens foreman
Jason Bedig	....	leadman
Richard K. Buoen	....	storyboard artist
Javier Carrillo	....	general foreman: New Orleans
Javier Carrillo	....	labor foreman: New Orleans
Liz Chiz	....	set decorating buyer
Peter C. Clarke	....	property master
Mick Cukurs	....	set designer
Michael Cutler	....	set dresser
William Davidson	....	propmaker foreman
Dave DeGaetano	....	construction coordinator
Julie Drach	....	set decorating assistant
Jann K. Engel	....	assistant art director
David Falconer	....	lead plaster foreman
Zachary Fannin	....	graphic designer
Amanda Fernald Jones	....	art department assistant: reshoots (as Amanda Fernald)
Gustavo R. Ferreyra	....	prop shop
Ralph Fierro	....	propmaker gangboss
Andy Flores	....	stand-by painter
Michael J. Flynn	....	greensman
Mike Flynn	....	greens gangboss
Rod Garvin	....	painter gangboss
John Gathright	....	property assistant: New Orleans
Rickie Gee	....	labor gangboss
Larry Haney	....	set dresser
Mark Hannibal	....	set dresser: New Orleans
Stephanie Higgins Frey	....	art department coordinator
John K. Hill	....	labor gangboss
Jennifer Ho	....	buyer
Cynthia Kershaw	....	art department assistant
Selma Kora	....	assistant property master
Andree Lago	....	painter
Suttirat Anne Larlarb	....	art director: New Orleans
Scot Leczel	....	propmaker gangboss
Julia K. Levine	....	set designer
Robert Loring Jr.	....	greens foreman
William J. Magill	....	propmaker foreman
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser
Molly Mikula	....	assistant art director
Jon Moberg	....	props
Jeremy Alan Read	....	on-set greensman
Steven Rigamat	....	general foreman
Darryl Robertshaw	....	propmaker foreman
George Sanchez	....	labor
Joaquin Sanchez	....	labor gangboss: New Orleans
John Sanchez	....	set dresser
Brooke Sartorius	....	set dresser
Randy Severino	....	swing gang
Michael J. Smith	....	painter gangboss (as Michael Smith)
Paul Stanwyck	....	head painter
Charles Stewart	....	property master
Chuck Stringer	....	construction foreman
Chere Theriot	....	art department coordinator
David Tureau	....	greens gangboss
Brett Tyler	....	painter gangboss
Chandler Vinar	....	set dresser
Peter Allan Brattander	....	portrait painter (uncredited)
Gail Briant	....	signwriter/foreman (uncredited)
Matt Center	....	set decorating coordinator (uncredited)
Daniel Coe	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Sara Fanelli	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Joey Genitempo	....	set painter (uncredited)
Martin J. Gibbons	....	welding foreman (uncredited)
Daniel J. Gillooly	....	greens coordinator (uncredited)
Daphne A. Guichard	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Guy Hietala	....	set painter (uncredited)
Al Hobbs	....	set designer (uncredited)
Vince Le Blanc	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Richard A. McCarthy	....	plaster gang boss (uncredited)
Richard N. McGuire	....	gangboss: reshoots (uncredited)
Adele Plauche	....	set designer (uncredited)
Jason Puga	....	painter (uncredited)
Turner Ross	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Jordan Steinberg	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Robyn Tomasovski	....	set painter (uncredited)
Joe Walsh	....	construction utility (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor (as Chris Assells)
Brian Carrigan	....	digital recordist
Bryan Carrigan	....	digital recordist
Kevin Cerchiai	....	boom operator
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
Peter J. Devlin	....	sound mixer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	consultant: Dolby Sound
George Flores	....	boom operator
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Dominic Gibbs	....	sound designer: conjure record
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor
Craig S. Jaeger	....	foley editor (as Craig Jaeger)
Craig Mann	....	dubbing recordist
Scott Millan	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacey Robinson	....	recording crew: Fox
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Ann Scibelli	....	sound designer
Branden Spencer	....	supervising assistant sound editor
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Jon Title	....	sound effects editor (as John Title)
Hugh Waddell	....	adr supervisor
Drew Webster	....	digital sound mix technician
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Gregg Wilson	....	assistant sound editor
Gregg Wilson	....	sound designer
Jeremy Brill	....	sound utility (uncredited)
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital audio assistant (uncredited)
Tom Ozanich	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Aaron Rihel	....	sound dailies (uncredited)
Von Varga	....	additional sound utility (uncredited)
Tim Walston	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stephen Bourgeois	....	special effects: New Orleans
Douglas Calli	....	special effects technician
Terry Chapman	....	special effects technician (as Terry P. Chapman)
Matt Derksen	....	character rigging supervisor
Jason Hamer	....	special effects supervisor: Steve Johnson's Edge FX, Inc.
David K. Nami	....	special effects: New Orleans
William A. Pancake Jr.	....	special effects technician
Jeff Pepiot	....	special effects technician
Edward T. Reiff Jr.	....	special effects technician
Neil Smith	....	special effects technician
Bob Stoker	....	special effects coordinator
Lucinda Strub	....	general foreman
Matt Sweeney	....	special effects supervisor
Mario Vanillo	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Kenneth Au	....	Inferno artist: Rhythm & Hues (as Ken Au)
Heather Baker	....	compositor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
J. Todd Constantine	....	matchmover: Rhythm & Hues (as Todd Constantine)
Dan Deleeuw	....	visual effects supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
Matt Derksen	....	character rigging setup: Rhythm & Hues
Anthony Harris	....	digital color timer: Rhythm & Hues
John Heller	....	Inferno artist: Rhythm & Hues
Karl Herbst	....	CG supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator
Karen Klein	....	background preparation artist: Rhythm & Hues
Karen Klein	....	rotoscope artist: Rhythm & Hues
Kyle Krogh	....	systems support: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Sean McPherson	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Harry Moreau	....	compositor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Gary Nolin	....	visual effects producer: Rhythm & Hues
Hunter Parks	....	CG lighter: Rhythm & Hues
Stephanie Pollard	....	visual effects coordinator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Edwin Rivera	....	compositing supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
Lisa Rodgers	....	post production supervisor
Amit Sharma	....	background preparation artist: Rhythm & Hues
Amit Sharma	....	rotoscope artist: Rhythm & Hues
Kimberly Sylvester	....	production manager: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Imran Ahmed	....	matchmove technical director (uncredited)
Amit Aidasani	....	match mover (uncredited)
Erik Akutagawa	....	scan/record manager (uncredited)
Cheryl Bainum	....	executive producer: HATCH (uncredited)
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O (uncredited)
Nathan Brunskill	....	Inferno assistant: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Sandesh Chonkar	....	match move technical director (uncredited)
Daniel Aristoteles Collins	....	systems/operations: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Brian Corpus	....	technical operations manager: Pacific Title and Art Studio (uncredited)
Dominic Daigle	....	digital artist: HATCH (uncredited)
Umesh Dalvi	....	matchmove technical director: Rhythm & Hues, India (uncredited)
Mark Edwards	....	visual effects coordinator: Hatch (uncredited)
Deak Ferrand	....	senior matte painter/designer: HATCH (uncredited)
Bill Georgiou	....	digital artist (uncredited)
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Harrison Hays	....	render coordinator: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Phil Holland	....	scanning/recording/photo coordinator (uncredited)
Kamalakkannan	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Craig Mathieson	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
L. Patrick McCormack	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer (uncredited)
Shawn Monaghan	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Laurie Powers	....	digital art director (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	digital colorist (uncredited)
Todd Sellers	....	matchmove lead: Rhythm & Hues Studios, India (uncredited)
Seshaprasad	....	digital production coordinator (uncredited)
Brad Smith	....	render I/O administrator (uncredited)
Mary C. Snyder	....	visual effects (uncredited)
James D. Tittle	....	visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title (uncredited)
Josh Tomlinson	....	pipeline TD: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Tom Bahr	....	marine stunt coordinator
Liisa Cohen	....	stunts
Annie Ellis	....	stunts
Conrade Gamble	....	stunts (as Conrad Gamble II)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Kathy Jarvis	....	stunts
Ralph W. Odum	....	stunts
Shane K. Odum	....	stunts (as Shane Odum)
Shawn Odum	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Gayle Sherman	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin Anderson	....	Steadicam operator
Colin Anderson	....	camera operator
Gordon Ard	....	grip: New Orleans
Josh Bleibtreu	....	director of photography: second unit, New Orleans
Martin Bosworth	....	rigging gaffer
John T. Connor	....	first assistant camera
Larry Cottrill	....	best boy electric
Brandon M. Cox	....	camera loader (as Brandon Cox)
Alex Cruz	....	best boy grip
David Deever	....	video engineer
David Diamond	....	best boy rigging electrics
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator
Jimmy Ellis	....	electrician
Greg Etherridge	....	lighting technician
Michael A. FauntLeRoy	....	first assistant camera: second unit, New Orleans (as Michael A. Fauntleroy Sr.)
Mark Figueroa	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles
Thomas Gibson	....	key grip
Adam Harrison	....	gaffer: second unit, Los Angeles
Patrick Hoeschen	....	electrician
Neil Holcomb	....	best boy rigging electric: New Orleans
John Kennedy	....	best boy electric
Jay Kleinhesselink	....	gaffer: second unit, Los Angeles
Hilary Klym	....	rigging best boy grip
Michael Lambert	....	dimmer board operator
Lisa Lengyel	....	second assistant camera: second unit, New Orleans
Scott Mayhew	....	best boy grip
Bruce McCleery	....	chief lighting technician (as Robert Bruce McCleery)
Niles McElroy	....	rigging electric gang boss
Anthony Mollicone	....	grip
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
Serge Nofield	....	second assistant camera
Phil Pastuhov	....	aerial director of photography: second unit, New Orleans
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator
Jon Philion	....	libra head operator
Christopher Prampin	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Rick Rader	....	key rigging grip
Kenny Rivenbark	....	crane operator: Technocrane
David Salamone	....	grip
Mariana Sánchez de Antuñano	....	second assistant camera (as Mariana Sanchez de Antunano)
John Savedra	....	set electrician
Alex Scott	....	camera production assistant
John Skotchdopole	....	camera operator: second unit, Los Angeles
Larry Sweet	....	dolly grip
Gregor Tavenner	....	first assistant camera
Michael Trim	....	director of photography: second unit, Los Angeles
Chris Trosclair	....	electrician
Chris Trosclair	....	set lighting technician: New Orleans
Michael Wahl	....	grip
Hootly Weedn	....	electrician
Bill Wheeler	....	grip
Tony Wheeler	....	dolly grip
Christopher Wiegand	....	electrician
Steve Wolfe	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Los Angeles (as Scott Wolfe)
Ignacio Woolfolk	....	grip
Nathan Borck	....	electrician (uncredited)
Shane Buttle	....	electrician: re-shoots (uncredited)
John S. Campbell	....	night light operator (uncredited)
Kia Dawson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Fanning	....	electrician (uncredited)
Franklin Jones II	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Dan Kubicek	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Michael Lowrance	....	electrician (uncredited)
Joe Macaluso	....	grip (uncredited)
Dan Ming	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Greg Mitchell	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
James Owens	....	rigger (uncredited)
Chris Pavlu	....	electrician (uncredited)
Andi Ruane	....	grip (uncredited)
David Schmalz	....	second video assist operator (uncredited)
Andrew Shulkind	....	libra head operator (uncredited)
Earl Woods	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Elizabeth Coulon	....	extras casting: Louisiana
Beth W. Crookham	....	casting assistant
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting: additional photography
Dawn Dowdle	....	extras casting assistant
Craig Fincannon	....	location casting
Lisa Mae Fincannon	....	location casting (as Lisa Mae Wells Fincannon)
Timothee Hammond	....	extras casting: Louisiana
Eliza Ladensohn	....	casting assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Deedra Ricketts	....	local extras casting
Courtney Sheinin	....	casting associate
Robin Batherson	....	local casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurel Frushour	....	set costumer
April Justin	....	costume production assistant
Joyce Kogut	....	costume supervisor
Amy Lynch	....	set costumer
Marina Marit	....	set costumer
Valerie T. O'Brien	....	costumer
Nina Padovano	....	costumer
Richard Schoen	....	key costumer
Kenn Smiley	....	period costumes
Nancy Smytka	....	costumer
Giselle Spence	....	seamstress
Ivory Stanton	....	costume ager/dyer
Ann Walters	....	costumer
Lesley D. Wickham	....	set costumer/seamstress
Kanani Wolf	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Timothy Alverson	....	additional editor (as Tim Alverson)
David Bilow	....	assistant editor
Justin Bourret	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Jo Dixon	....	assistant editor: avid
Trent Johnson	....	digital film colorist
Bruce Lomet	....	digital intermediate producer
Davis Reynolds	....	first assistant editor
Jeff Smithwick	....	film timer
Jen Woodhouse	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
James Burt	....	assistant music editor
Bryan Carrigan	....	music programmer
Tom Chichester-Clark	....	technical score advisor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator
Christopher Elly	....	scoring assistant
Chris Fogel	....	music scoring mixer
Scott Glasgow	....	score preparation
Daryl B. Kell	....	supervising music editor
Tim Lauber	....	score recordist
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring cue mixer
Sara Lord	....	music supervisor
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Universal Pictures
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Tom Steel	....	scoring stage manager
Bill Talbott	....	scoring technician
Jeff Toyne	....	additional orchestrator

Transportation Department
Ed Arter	....	transportation coordinator
Louis Dinson	....	transportation captain
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Stan Storc	....	transportation co-captain
Stanley Storc	....	transportation dispatcher
George A. Sack	....	driver: production van (uncredited)
John H. Stephens	....	driver: honeywagon (uncredited)

Other crew
Keith Anthony	....	adr voice
Stephen Apostolina	....	adr voice
Tom Bahr	....	marine coordinator
Mary Pat Bentel	....	assistant: Ms. Sher
Michael Betz	....	production assistant
Maya Browne	....	assistant: Mr. Softley
Martha Bryan	....	location assistant
Jenna Buffaloe	....	assets manager
David Byrne	....	production assistant
June Christopher	....	adr voice
Rudy Coblentz Jr.	....	second assistant accountant
David Cowgill	....	adr voice
Wendy Cutler	....	adr voice
Ted M. Davila	....	first assistant accountant
Helio DeOliveira	....	location assistant
Sharon Donovan	....	assistant: Ms. Rowland
Holly Dorff	....	adr voice
Frank Duffy	....	first aid: New Orleans
Marty Elfalan	....	first assistant accountant
Lisa Jean Felski	....	key accountant: re-shoot
Lisa Jean Felski	....	post-production accountant
Amy Finkle	....	assistant: Ms. Hudson
Katie Fitch	....	assistant: Mr. Softley
Donald Fullilove	....	adr voice
Miranda Garrison	....	choreographer
Zoila Gomez	....	production coordinator
Mario Rolando Gonzalez	....	caterer
Kerry Michele Gutierrez	....	adr voice
Andrew Harrington	....	craft service assistant
Patti Hawn	....	publicist
Gregory D. Hemstreet	....	production accountant
Joseph M. Horrigan	....	consultant: athletic performance
Rif Hutton	....	adr voice
Andrew Jablonski	....	payroll accountant
Annie Jablonski	....	production secretary (as Annie Schultz)
William Jackson	....	production intern
Nancy G. James	....	craft service: New Orleans
Tom H. Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Shamberg (as Tom Johnson)
Walter Jones	....	adr voice
Jahmila Knell	....	production assistant: New Orleans
Aaron Kogan	....	assistant: Mr. Bobker
Polly Leach	....	assistant: Mr. Softley
Donna Lynn Leavy	....	adr voice
Jennifer Lobban	....	second assistant accountant
Elizabeth Ludwick-Bax	....	script supervisor
Tara Martin	....	assistant production office coordinator
Mimi Maynard	....	adr voice
Robert Mazaraki	....	production coordinator: New Orleans
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice
Bob Neill	....	adr voice
Matt Paull	....	production assistant
Nicholas Pellegrin	....	production assistant: New Orleans
Brad Pero	....	production assistant
Jennifer Ray	....	office production assistant
Scott Rorie	....	production assistant
Terence Rosemore	....	assistant: Mr. Hurt
Colleen Ryan	....	production assistant: New Orleans
M. Gerard Sellers	....	location manager: New Orleans
Stan Sellers	....	adr voice
Lexi Shoemaker	....	stand-in
Sandy Simpson	....	adr voice
Jim Small	....	location assistant: Louisiana
Mary Elizabeth Cuccia Smith	....	production assistant
Mollie Stallman	....	key production assistant
Barry Steadman	....	location assistant: New Orleans
Pepper Sweeney	....	adr voice
Sam Tedesco	....	supervising location manager: Louisiana
Michelle Thompson	....	production assistant: New Orleans
Karla Torres	....	assistant: Ms. Sher
Greg Turnbull	....	accounting clerk
Paul Uddo	....	production assistant
Marco Umana	....	assistant location manager: New Orleans
Claudette Wells	....	adr voice
Boyd Wilson	....	location manager: California
Chris Winn	....	key craft service
Wise Wolf	....	assistant: Mr. Softley (as Wise W. Wolfe IV)
Brook Worley	....	assistant: Mr. Townsend
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	pilot
Christy Zeller	....	production assistant
Julie Asbury	....	asset coordinator: re-shoot (uncredited)
Brad Bell	....	location scout: California (uncredited)
Victor Brunette	....	key location assistant (uncredited)
Lisa Collins	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Frank Duffy	....	medical coordinator (uncredited)
Frank Duffy	....	set medic (uncredited)
Chris Gibson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Marcus J.N.A. Gill	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Laura M. Guzik	....	office production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Laura M. Guzik	....	production secretary: re-shoots (uncredited)
Carolyn Hufstetler	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Jason Z. Kemp	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alexander Lasseigne III	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Barrett J. Leigh	....	assistant production coordinator (uncredited)
Dave McComb	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer (uncredited)
Matthew D. Miller	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Neal	....	payroll accountant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Nathan Parker	....	extras wrangler (uncredited)
Hirotatsu Taniguchi	....	set production intern (uncredited)
Denise Templeton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mark Van Horne	....	laboratory contact (uncredited)
Jason Vowell	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Kathleen Blanco	....	special thanks: state of Louisiana (as Governor Kathleen Blanco)
Michelle Guish	....	thanks
Peter Loop II	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• ShadowCatcher Entertainment
• Double Feature Films
• Daniel Bobker Productions
• Brick Dust Productions LLC
• MFPV Film

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Perpetual Motion Pictures (visual effects)
• Rhythm and Hues (visual effects)
• Custom Film Effects (digital opticals)
• Pacific Title (digital opticals)
• Gentle Giant Studios (uncredited)
• Hatch Production (uncredited)

Other Companies

• BeBee  mobile lighting
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by (uncredited)
• Casting Associates  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Custom Film Effects  digital opticals
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by (uncredited)
• Hyperion Sound  score mixed at
• Louisiana Casting Database  extras casting (uncredited)
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  music recorded at (as Fox Scoring Stage)
• Pacific Title  digital opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Paws for Effect  bugs provided by (uncredited)
• Right Lobe Design Group  titles
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Technicolor  color
• Twentieth Century Fox Scoring Stage  music recorded at
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

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 Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | 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 house used for this film used to be a working plantation call Felicity.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Caroline is trying to escape with Ben, the first time she tries to bang into the gate and break the lock, she looks back and in the window of the house you can see the camera flashing.

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 "Andy Barker, P.I.: The Big No Sleep (#1.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

61 Highway Blues

Hudson in non-horror shocker....

The Skeleton Key will probably be marketed as a horror – an isolated house on the banks of a New Orleans swamp where doors slam of their own accord; nervous rumours of murderous black magic rituals; and a blonde protagonist who has to run about a lot. But this does the film a huge disservice. It is a superb supernatural thriller that unfurls unpredictably, with a tensely macabre tone, performances that are uniformly finely pitched, and a climax that will have you drooling popcorn.

Kate Hudson, who has irksomely been referred to as a 'rising' star for the last five years, brings a surprisingly committed sensibility to her role as Caroline Ellis – a hospice worker determined to make enough money to attend nursing school, after failing to nurse her own father through his death. She takes a job as a live-in caretaker for the aging owners of an isolated plantation house – a man rendered nearly lifeless by a stroke (Ben - John Hurt in truly mesmerising form) and his sister (Violet - the excellent Gena Rowlands) on the recommendation of the siblings' lawyer. But when Violet gives Caroline the house's skeleton key, she begins to discover things that are best left locked away.

The film's centrepiece is a particular type of witchcraft known as Hoodoo – a secular American/European dark magic. Hoodoo? Well most of New Orleans do, as Caroline's friend tells her that the Deep South has a history of it, and Caroline discovers signs of the magic in the plantation house attic, in a nearby garage, and even in the back of the town's launderette. She will also find out exactly what cruelty Hoodoo can inflict.

British director Iain Softley (K-PAX/Hackers) and writer Ehren Kruger (Scream 3/The Ring) have done masterful jobs here. The Skeleton Key does not pulse with predictable build-up/ shock deliveries – it sets a tone of realism and imparts into that supernatural undertones, the way Polanski did with Rosemary's Baby. The setting is precise but not overly stylised, and even the usually effervescent Hudson has reigned herself to imbue her character with an accessible maturity. Better still, movies like this, and British director Neil Marshall's recent subterranean nightmare The Descent, may signal a departure from formulaic genre rehashes and a move into believably nerve-jangling and inescapable edginess.