The Skeleton Key

The Skeleton Key (2005)

  • 37% of critics liked it
    (148 reviews)

  • 63% of users liked it
    (173,026 ratings)

A young woman discovers a terrible secret while caring for an elderly man in this supernatural thriller. Caroline (Kate Hudson) is a care provider for the aged who is hired away from the hospice where she works by Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands). Violet needs someone to help take care of her… More

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PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Ehren Kruger
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
In Theaters
Aug 12, 2005 Wide
Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    This is a moody, creepy thriller with some genuinely scary moments and a couple of twists that took me completely by surprise.

  • Jen Chaney, Washington Post

    The Skeleton Key delivers on all formulaic counts, except one: It never serves up any truly nightmare-inspiring scares.

  • Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

    A diverting, stylish thriller that, despite pivoting on that and other whoppers, deserves credit for creating an authentic, original vibe.

  • , USA Today

    This is essentially a haunted-house horror flick that starts off with effectively eerie scenes but devolves into a forced and mildly ridiculous ghost story.

  • Peter Howell, Toronto Star

    Criminal waste of talent.

Read all 14 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • John M


    Creepy movie with some nice twists.

  • Wahida K


    If someone likes occult stuff, this is a right thing, there is a tiny bit of everything. Skeleton Key is one of the greatest Mystery/Occult Movies I think.

  • Red L


    Scary movie. I spent most of the movie trying to figure out who the bad guy was and how was it going to end? It didn't end the way I figured it would. Pretty bad. I watched this movie again five years later, and it still did not end the way I figured it would (I had forgotten… More

  • Stuart B


    Decent enough horor/thriller

  • Emil K


    Very entertaining and quite a mumbo-jumbo, but still the plot with all the voodoo stuff is fun to watch. Sure it is just pure entertainment, but it is very well made. And Gena Rowlands is just perfect!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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