The Skeleton Key - Wikipedia

The Skeleton Key is a 2005 American supernatural horror film directed by Iain Softley, written by Ehren Kruger, and starring Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, ... TheSkeletonKey FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch 2005filmbyIainSoftley Forotheruses,seeSkeletonkey(disambiguation). TheSkeletonKeyPromotionalposterDirectedbyIainSoftleyWrittenbyEhrenKrugerProducedby MichaelShamberg StaceySher IainSoftley DanielBobker Starring KateHudson GenaRowlands PeterSarsgaard JoyBryant JohnHurt CinematographyDanMindelEditedbyJoeHutshingMusicbyEdwardShearmurProductioncompaniesShadowcatcherEntertainmentDoubleFeatureFilmsDistributedbyUniversalPicturesReleasedate July 29, 2005 (2005-07-29)(UnitedKingdom) August 12, 2005 (2005-08-12)(UnitedStates) Runningtime104minutesCountryUnitedStatesLanguageEnglishBudget$43million[1]Boxoffice$94million[1] TheSkeletonKeyisa2005AmericansupernaturalhorrorfilmdirectedbyIainSoftley,writtenbyEhrenKruger,andstarringKateHudson,GenaRowlands,JohnHurt,PeterSarsgaard,andJoyBryant.TheSouthernGothicnarrativefollowsaNewOrleanshospicenursewhobeginsajobataTerrebonneParishplantationhome,andbecomesentangledinasupernaturalmysteryinvolvingthehouse,itsformerinhabitants,andHoodooritualsandspellsthattookplacethere. Contents 1Plot 2Cast 3Production 4Release 5Reception 6References 7Externallinks Plot[edit] CarolineEllis,ahospiceaide,quitsherpositionatanursinghomeandishiredasthecaretakerofanisolatedplantationhouseinTerrebonneParish,Louisiana.Theagingmatronofthehouse,VioletDevereaux,needshelplookingafterherhusbandBenjamin,whowasmostlyparalyzedbyanapparentstroke.Attheinsistenceofthefamily'sestatelawyer,LukeMarshall,Carolineacceptstheposition. AfterBenattemptstoescapehisroomduringastorm,Carolineinvestigatesthehouse'sattic,whereVioletsaidBensufferedhisstroke;sheusesaskeletonkeywhichVioletgaveher.Shediscoversasecretroomfilledwithritualparaphernalia.CarolineconfrontsViolet,whorevealsthattheroomusedtobelongtotwoAfricanAmericanservantswhowereemployedatthehouse90yearsbefore.Theservants,MamaCecileandPapaJustify,wererenownedhoodoopractitioners;theywerelynchedafterconductingaritualwiththeowners'twochildren,fromwhomVioletandBenlaterboughtthehouse.ViolettellsCarolinethattheykeepnomirrorsinthehousebecausetheyseereflectionsofCecileandJustifyinthem.Carolineborrowsaphonographrecordfromtheattic:ConjureofSacrifice,arecordingofPapaJustifyrecitingahoodooritual. CarolinesurmisesthatBen'sstrokewascausedbyhoodoo,butbelievesthathisparalyticstateisanoceboeffectinducedbyhisownbelief,ratherthansomethingsupernatural.TakingadvicefromherfriendJill,Carolinevisitsahiddenhoodooshopinanearbylaundromat,whereahoodoowomangiveshertoolsandinstructionstocureBen.Aftersheconductstheritual,BenregainssomeabilitytomoveandspeakandhebegsCarolinetogethimawayfromViolet. CarolinetellsLukesheissuspiciousofViolet,butheremainsskeptical.TheytraveltoagasstationthatCarolinepreviouslynotedwaslinedwithbrickdust,whichshewastoldisahoodoodefense;supposedly,noonewhomeansoneharmcanpassalineofbrickdust.Sheasksoneoftheproprietors,ablindwoman,abouttheConjureofSacrifice,whichshelearnsisaspellwhereinthecasterstealstheremainingyearsoflifefromthevictim.Increasinglyconvincedofhoodoo'sauthenticity,CarolinefearsthatVioletwillsooncastthespellonBen. CarolinediscoversthatVioletisunabletopassalineofbrickdustlaidacrossoneofthehouse'sdoorways,confirminghersuspicions.SheincapacitatesVioletandattemptstoescapethehousewithBen,butthefrontgateischainedshut.CarolinehidesBenonthepropertyandentersLuke'sofficeforhelp.Luke,revealedtobeViolet'saccomplice,bringsCarolinebacktothehouse.Carolineescapes,getsintoafightwithViolet,andviolentlypushesherdownthestairs,breakingherlegsintheprocess.Withstrategicuseofbrickdust,Carolinefleestotheattic,calls9-1-1andJillforhelp,andcastswhatshebelievesisaprotectivespell.Violet,havingcaughtupwithher,revealssheactuallytrappedherselfinsideaprotectivecircle.Violetpushesafull-lengthmirroratCaroline,whichreflectstheoriginalowner'sdaughter,thenViolet,andlastlyMamaCecile.ArecordingoftheConjureofSacrificeplays,andthetwoswitchbodies. Violet(revealedtobeMamaCecile,whohadbeenoccupyingViolet'sbodythroughtheConjure)wakesupinCaroline'sbody,andforce-feedsCaroline(nowinViolet'sbody)apotionthatinducesastroke-likeparalyticstatelikeBen's.Luke(actuallyPapaJustify)arrivesupstairs,revealingthatMamaCecileandPapaJustifyhavebeenconductingtheConjureofSacrificeonnewpeoplesincetheirsupposeddeaths;theyhadswappedplaceswiththetwochildrenjustbeforethelynching.Becausehoodooissupposedlyonlyeffectiveonthosewhobelieveinit,CecileandJustifyhadtowaitforCarolinetocometobelieveinhoodoothroughherowninvestigation. EmergencyservicesarrivethenextmorningandtakeCarolineandLukeaway,trappedintheparalyzeddyingbodiesofVioletandBen;whenJillarrives,"Luke"tellsherthattheDevereauxesleftthehousetoCaroline,ensuringthatCecileandJustifywillcontinuetooccupythehouse. Cast[edit] KateHudsonasCarolineEllis GenaRowlandsasVioletDevereaux JohnHurtasBenjamin"Ben"Devereaux PeterSarsgaardasLukeMarshall JoyBryantasJillDupay RonaldMcCallasPapaJustify JerylPrescottasMamaCecile Production[edit] TheSkeletonKeywasfilmedattheFelicityPlantation,locatedontheMississippiRiverinSaintJamesParish,Louisiana.[2] Release[edit] TheSkeletonKeywasreleasedintheU.S.onAugust12,2005,afterhavingreceivedanearlierreleasedateofJuly29,2005intheUnitedKingdom.[3]Itgrossed$92millionworldwide.[1]IntheU.S.,ittookin$16.1millioninitsfirstweekend,reachingnumber2attheboxoffice;thetotalUSgrosswas$47.9million.[1] Reception[edit] ReviewaggregatorRottenTomatoesreportsthat38%of149surveyedcriticsgavethefilmapositivereview;theaverageratingis5.3/10.Thesite'sconsensusreads:"Thankstoitscreakyandformulaicscript,TheSkeletonKeyismoremumbo-jumbothanhoodooandmoredullthanscary."[4]Metacriticratedit47/100basedon32reviews.[5] TheGuardian'sPeterBradshawawardedthefilmthreeoutoffivestars,noting:"It'saprettythanklessroleforpoorJohnHurt,andtherearesomeplotholes.Butthere'ssomeshrewdsatireofracismasthemodernsouth'spersistent,dirtylittlesecretandscreenwriterEhrenKruger'sthirdactconjuresupaneatlittleshiver."[3]CarinaChocanooftheLosAngelesTimespraisedthefilm,callingit"tightlyplottedandsuspensefulenoughtokeepyouguessinguntilthesatisfying,unexpectedend,whichisworthsuspendingdisbelieffor,"addingthat"Hudsonholdsherownamongimpressivecompany.NotthatHurthasawholelottodootherthangrabanoccasionalwristandrecoilathisfaceinthemirror,andtheusuallymeasuredSarsgaardoversellsitabit,butRowlandstakestothepartlikeaflytoashuckedoyster."[6] ManohlaDargisofTheNewYorkTimescriticizedthefilmforitsplot,describingitas"enjoyablyinane,"andalsonotedthatthefilm"indulgesinalmosteveryconceivableregionaland[SouthernGothic]genrecliché."[7]USATodaywrotethatthefilm"employsintriguingcameraanglestoheightensomeofthesuspense.It'stoobadthemoviegoesoverthetopandfallsapartinthelastthird."[8]StephanieZacharekwroteinSalon:"Softley,workingfromascriptbyEhrenKruger,putssomuchcareintolayeringmoodsandtexturesthathedoesn'talwaysscoottheactionalongasbrisklyasheshould."[9]InTheSeattleTimes,MoiraMcDonaldwrotethatthefilmis"occasionallyscarybutmoreoftensilly."[10]InherreviewforTheAustinChronicle,MarjorieBaumgartenwrote:"DirectorSoftleyagainshowshisgiftsforcreatingatmosphericmilieus...Yetthemovie,overall,lackstensionandsuspense.[11]InFilmJournalInternational,EdwardAlterwrotethat,"IainSoftley(K-Pax)andcinematographerDanMindelmakethemostofthesetting,"butconcludedthatthefilmwas,"apaint-by-numberssupernaturalthrillerthat'smoreinterestingforitslocationsthanforitsstory."[12] JenniePunterinTheGlobeandMailcalledthefilm,"stylishlymadebutdisappointinglylightweight."[13]WritingfortheChicagoTribune,JessicaReevescalledthefilm"serviceablebutultimatelydisappointing".[14]Inhisannualfilmguide,LeonardMaltinratedthefilmmediocre,statingthatitwas"well-producedandoccasionallysuspenseful,butpopulatedbyunpleasantcharactersandastorythatmovestooslowly."[15]IntheannualDVD&VideoGuide,MarshaPorterwrote,"Afewgoodscarescan'tcompensateforasluggishpace,andtheclimactictwistcomesasasurpriseonlybecauseitdoesn'tmakesense."[16] References[edit] ^abcd"TheSkeletonKey".BoxOfficeMojo.RetrievedJune4,2020. ^Scott,Mike(June8,2016)."Wherewasthe'Roots'remakefilmed?".TheTimes-Picayune.RetrievedJanuary30,2017. ^abBradshaw,Peter(July28,2005)."TheSkeletonKey".TheGuardian.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^"TheSkeletonKey".RottenTomatoes.RetrievedJune4,2020. ^"SkeletonKey,The(2005):Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune4,2020. ^Chocano,Carina(August12,2005)."'SkeletonKey'isagothicthrillerwithgoodbones".LosAngelesTimes.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^Dargis,Manohla(August12,2005)."JustinTime,aSouthernGothicGumboofFluffandHorror".TheNewYorkTimes.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^"'SkeletonKey'goesbump,thenthuds".USAToday.August11,2005.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^Zacharek,Stephanie(August12,2005).""TheSkeletonKey"".Salon.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^McDonald,Moira(August11,2005).""SkeletonKey":DearKate,wemissyoursunnysmile".TheSeattleTimes.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^Baumgarten,Marjorie(August12,2005)."FilmReview:TheSkeletonKey".TheAustinChronicle.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^Alter,Edward(August12,2005)."TheSkeletonKey".FilmJournalInternational.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonApril12,2015. ^Punter,Jennie(August12,2005)."TheSkeletonKey".TheGlobeandMail.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonJune4,2020. ^Reeves,Jessica(December2,2005)."Moviereview:'TheSkeletonKey'".ChicagoTribune.ArchivedfromtheoriginalonDecember2,2005. ^Maltin2008,p. 1252.sfnerror:notarget:CITEREFMaltin2008(help) ^Porter2008,p. 1034.sfnerror:notarget:CITEREFPorter2008(help) Externallinks[edit] TheSkeletonKeyatRottenTomatoes TheSkeletonKeyatIMDb TheSkeletonKeyatAllMovie InterviewwithJohnHurt SkeletonKeyHouse-OutsideTour vteFilmsdirectedbyIainSoftley Backbeat(1994) Hackers(1995) TheWingsoftheDove(1997) K-PAX(2001) TheSkeletonKey(2005) Inkheart(2008) TrapforCinderella(2013) Curve(2015) vteFilmsbyEhrenKrugerWritten KillersintheHouse(1998) ArlingtonRoad(1999) NewWorldDisorder(1999) Scream3(2000) ReindeerGames(2000) Impostor(2001) TheRing(2002) Rings(2005) TheRingTwo(2005) TheSkeletonKey(2005) TheBrothersGrimm(2005) Blood&Chocolate(2007) Transformers:RevengeoftheFallen(2009) Transformers:DarkoftheMoon(2011) Transformers:AgeofExtinction(2014) GhostintheShell(2017) Dumbo(2019,alsoproduced) TopGun:Maverick(2022) Produced DreamHouse(2011) Ophelia(2018) Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Skeleton_Key&oldid=1052105437" Categories:2005filmsEnglish-languagefilms2005horrorfilms2005psychologicalthrillerfilmsAmericanfilmsAmericanpsychologicalhorrorfilmsAmericansupernaturalthrillerfilmsAmericansupernaturalhorrorfilmsFilmsscoredbyEdwardShearmurFilmssetinNewOrleansFilmsshotinNewOrleansHoodoo(spirituality)FilmswithscreenplaysbyEhrenKrugerSouthernGothicfilmsGothichorrorfilmsBodyswappinginfilmsFilmsaboutwitchcraftUniversalPicturesfilmsFilmsaboutconsciousnesstransfer2000ssupernaturalfilmsFilmsdirectedbyIainSoftley2000ssupernaturalhorrorfilmsHiddencategories:HarvandSfnno-targeterrorsArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionmatchesWikidataTemplatefilmdatewith2releasedates Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk Variants expanded collapsed Views ReadEditViewhistory More expanded collapsed Search Navigation 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