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The Skeleton Key

  • 2005
  • K-15
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
119K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,536
1,237
The Skeleton Key (2005)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:18
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorMystery

A hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past.A hospice nurse working at a spooky New Orleans plantation home finds herself entangled in a mystery involving the house's dark past.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
  • Stars
    • Kate Hudson
    • Peter Sarsgaard
    • Joy Bryant
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    119K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,536
    1,237
    • Director
      • Iain Softley
    • Writer
      • Ehren Kruger
    • Stars
      • Kate Hudson
      • Peter Sarsgaard
      • Joy Bryant
    • 455User reviews
    • 183Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:18
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Skeleton Key
    Clip 0:54
    Watch The Skeleton Key

    Photos139

    Gena Rowlands and Kate Hudson in The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson and Peter Sarsgaard in The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson in The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson in The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Gena Rowlands and Kate Hudson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Chris Robinson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Chris Robinson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)
    Chris Robinson at an event for The Skeleton Key (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kate Hudson
    Kate Hudson
    • Caroline Ellis
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • Luke Marshall
    Joy Bryant
    Joy Bryant
    • Jill
    Gena Rowlands
    Gena Rowlands
    • Violet Devereaux
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • Ben Devereaux
    Maxine Barnett
    • Mama Cynthia
    Fahnlohnee R. Harris
    • Hallie
    • (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
    Marion Zinser
    • Bayou Woman
    Deneen Tyler
    Deneen Tyler
    • Desk Nurse
    Ann Dalrymple
    Ann Dalrymple
    • C.N.A.
    Trula M. Marcus
    • Nurse Trula
    • (as Trula Marcus)
    Tonya Staten
    • Nurse Audrey
    Thomas Uskali
    Thomas Uskali
    • Robertson Thorpe
    • (as Tom Uskali)
    Jen Apgar
    Jen Apgar
    • Madeleine Thorpe
    Forrest Landis
    Forrest Landis
    • Martin Thorpe
    Jamie Lee Redmon
    Jamie Lee Redmon
    • Grace Thorpe
    Ronald McCall
    Ronald McCall
    • Papa Justify
    Jeryl Prescott
    Jeryl Prescott
    • Mama Cecile
    • (as Jeryl Prescott Sales)
    • Director
      • Iain Softley
    • Writer
      • Ehren Kruger
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    The Skeleton Key: Deleted Scenes
    The Skeleton Key: Deleted Scenes
    Vacancy
    6.2
    Vacancy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The swamp behind the Devereaux house was created with CGI effects. The actual house used in this movie, 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
      Violet rides up in the elevator when all power is out.
    • Quotes

      Violet Devereaux: Child, I believe you broke my legs.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'The Skeleton Key' (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Do Whatcha Wanna
      Written by Keith Frazier, Philip Frazier and Kermit Ruffins

      Performed by ReBirth Brass Band (as The Rebirth Brass Band)

    User reviews455

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Great setting, great atmsophere and an all-time great horror movie ending
    The ending to this movie which I won't spoil is truly one of the best I've encountered in a horror movie. Throughout the runtime I was trying to figure out what the inevitable twist will be but there is no way I could've predicted the wild turn of events that unfolds. The conclusion is what made me raise my rating from a 7 to and 8. Ending notwithstanding it is still a very decent and atmospheric horror movie. I love movies set in New Orleans/Louisiana and am always on the lookout for more and this was a major reason why I watched this. I love it when a Louisiana movie embraces the swampy setting so that you can feel the humidity radiating from the screen. Skeleton Key has a lot of great scenes that establish the setting and showcase the culture and myths of the area. Some say the movie is a bit tame but that's not a problem for me. There are some horror movies that are let down by a PG-13 rating but this is not really a movie that needed an R rating as I can't think of many things that it would have changed apart from adding some unnecessary gore. Additionally, the performances are good but the direction could've maybe been improved to give it more of a creepy vibe as there weren't many actual scenes that had me scared. All in all it doesn't matter too much as Skeleton Key is a very decent and rather underrated horror movie that relies on atmosphere and setting rather than cheap thrills and gore.
    helpful•12
    0
    • Chance_Boudreaux19
    • Sep 20, 2021

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    FAQ13

    • What is 'The Skeleton Key' about?
    • Is "The Skeleton Key" based on a book?
    • What is Hoodoo?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 2005 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Skeleton Key
    • Filming locations
      • Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, USA(trip to see hoodoo lady)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • ShadowCatcher Entertainment
      • Double Feature Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $43,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $47,907,715
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,057,945
      • Aug 14, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $93,983,911
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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