• The Skeleton Key (2005)

    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...

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The Skeleton Key
47
metacriticBased on 32 Critics
90
Based on 334 Users

Release Date: August 12th, 2005

DVD Release Date: November 15th, 2005

PG-13 |1 hr 44 min

Plot Summary

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.

Cast: Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard, Joy Bryant, Maxine Barnett, Tom Uskali, Jen Apgar

Director: Iain Softley

Genres: Horror , Thriller

Production Co: Double Feature Films

Distributors: Universal Pictures

Keywords: Dark, Tense, Escape, 2000s, Wife, Husband

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 63
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    One of those movies that explains too much while it is explaining too little, and leaves us with a surprise at the end that makes more sense the less we think about it. But the movie's mastery of technique makes up for a lot. show more

  • 63
    Chicago Tribune

    For all its dark, Gothic intentions and supernatural twists, it lacks the emotional and intellectual punch of similarly themed films, most notably Alejandro Amenábar's "The Others." show more

  • 70
    Michael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood Reporter

    An elegantly mounted ghost story that's steeped plenty of dank Louisiana atmosphere. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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