Review of The Skeleton Key (2005) by Kevin R — 31 May 2013

Are you a nurse or detective?

Caroline Ellis is a hospice care nurse working on a Louisiana plantation for a crippled man and his wife. Initially, the nurse starts seeing and hearing strange things all around the house. At first, she thinks the house is responsible for the strange occurrences; but upon further review, it may be a voodoo curse. Is the curse on the man or the house?

"He fell from up there?".

"Up there? How? He can't even walk.".

Iain Softley, director of Hackers, Inkheart, Backbeat, The Wings of the Dove, K-PAX, and the upcoming The Trap for Cinderella, delivers The Skeleton Key. The storyline for this picture is just okay. I did love the settings and backdrop but found the primary plot fairly straightforward. The cast delivers very good performances (for the genre) and includes Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt, and Joy Bryant.

"You don't see gardens like this back in Jersey I bet.".

"Actually, it's the garden state.".

"I doubt that.".

Skeleton Key is a movie that was recommended to me by my best friend. I was greatly disappointed as it seemed like a poor man's Misery mixed with voodoo. I have never been a big fan of voodoo movies outside of Angel Heart. Overall, this is a below average horror movie that isn't really worth your time.

"You found yourself a voodoo room.".

Grade: D+/C- (3.5).