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The Skeleton Key [DVD] [2005]
 
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The Skeleton Key [DVD] [2005]

DVD ~ Kate Hudson
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Frequently Bought Together

The Skeleton Key [DVD] [2005] + House Of Wax [DVD] [2005] + The Amityville Horror [DVD] [2005]
Total RRP: £48.97
Price For All Three: £14.94

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Skeleton Key [DVD] [2005]
89% buy the item featured on this page:
The Skeleton Key [DVD] [2005] 3.8 out of 5 stars (35)
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Product details

  • Actors: Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, Joy Bryant, John Hurt
  • Directors: Iain Softley
  • Format: Anamorphic, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Uca
  • DVD Release Date: 6 Oct 2008
  • Run Time: 100 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000BH2TDI
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,092 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in these categories:

    #29 in  DVD > Horror
    #79 in  DVD > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Steeped in rain, humidity, and eerie bayou atmosphere, The Skeleton Key is an entertaining supernatural thriller that makes excellent use of its Louisiana locations. New Orleans and the rural environs of Terrebonne Parish are crucial in setting up the creepy circumstances that find compassionate caregiver Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson) newly employed at the backwater plantation home of Violet (Gena Rowlands) and her invalid husband Ben (John Hurt), who's been rendered mute and seemingly helpless by a recent stroke. The place is rife with mystery, shrouded in the secrets of a suspicious past and, under Violet's stern supervision, plagued by superstition involving the use of Hoodoo magic spells (not to be confused with Voodoo, as explored in the similarly suspenseful Angel Heart) intended to protect the house from harm. But Caroline soon discovers the source of the mystery, and why Ben (who can barely utter a word) is so desperate to escape his seemingly comfortable domesticity. There are a few loopholes in the screenplay by prolific horror writer Ehren Kruger (The Ring and The Brothers Grimm), but director Iain Softley (Wings of the Dove) expertly emphasizes the edgy air of mystery, pushing some effective shocks while encouraging fine work from Hudson, Peter Sarsgaard (as Violet's lawyer) and especially Rowlands, who's genuinely disturbing as Skeleton Key nears a twist ending that's undeniably effective. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
After New Orleans hospice worker Caroline (Kate Hudson) answers a help wanted ad, she finds herself working as the live-in caretaker of Ben Devereaux (John Hurt), a stroke victim who has lost his ability to speak. Ben's wife, Violet (Gena Rowlands), presents Caroline with a skeleton key to open any door in the house with the exception of one, which she claims she has never been able to open. But curiosity gets the best of her, and Caroline opens the door to find a wealth of materials representing the old house's history of hoodoo, an ancient form of folk magic. She soon discovers that the house harbours a dark secret one that Violet knows more about than she first admits. Breaking her string of lighthearted romantic comedies, Kate Hudson gives a performance that proves she's more than capable of playing a feisty damsel in distress. Ehren Kruger's (The Ring) script gives her some physically demanding scenes, while providing the audience with a steady string of effective jolts culminating in a Sixth Sense-style twist that few are likely to see coming. Louisiana's swampy, heavy atmosphere is literally a character in the film, while Gena Rowlands, at age 75, astounds once again with one of her most surprising roles.

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Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (22)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I Do Not Believe ........, 2 Dec 2005
I have just recently rented this film for something to watch, not buying it first incase i didn't like it. But after finishing this film i was very pleasantly surprised as i rented this as a horror which didn't look scary, and found myself with more of a thriller, which was, for lack or a better word - chilling.

The film is based around Caroline (Kate Hudson) who, sick of the job she is in (due to people's lack of caring) takes a job in a large mansion looking after an elderly man who has suffered from a stroke and is paralysed. She is given (skeleton) key which will open every door in the house by the man's wife, who to Caroline seems quite strange as she allows no mirrors in the house. Caroline gets on with her work but it is only when she discovers a secret room in the attic (which the key won't open) and forces her way in that room and finds many objects relating to 'HooDoo' (am ancient magic) that the mystery deepin's. As she becomes more and more involved with the strange house and the mystery that lies within, and delves further into the HooDoo magic that a series of shocking events take place and lead to a shocking climax (that i never even guessed) which leaves the viewer in shock but satisfied as the film ties itself up nicely.

The acting in this film is superb with Kate's performance flawless and extremely believable. The settings are few but effective and the house is the perfect setting for this chilling tale.

I can't comment on the features for this DVD as it was a rental and i never had time to watch them but going but what it says on the packet, they seem really good for a single disc DVD.

This is definatly one i'm going to buy as it's one i could see me watching over and over and i'm sure alot of people will feel the same. So i recommend this if you are looking for a film that keeps you guessing right through till the end without being a total gore-fest.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A rare treat., 12 Mar 2007
By Mr. D. Bell "Dan Bell" (Northampton, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
From time to time a film is released that makes you remember why you fell in love with films in the first place. There are so many average films made that sometimes I wonder if anyone will make something decent again. The Skeleton key is one of those rare rays of sunshine. Having heard mixed reports I was unsure what to expect, but at the end I was left smiling with one the best and cleverest twists I have seen in a long time.

The story centres on an elderly man (John Hurt) who has suffered a stroke and is now wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Although he lives with his wife she is unable to cope on her own and hires the help of a carer (Kate Hudson). There are excellent performances from all involved, not least John Hurt, who manages to portray so much emotion without speaking through virtually the whole film.

The film is perfectly paced and gives enough exposition throughout so you never get the feeling that you have no idea what is going on. There are a few creepy moments but not enough to class it as a horror. To say anymore about the plot may give something away so I will stop now and say this film is well worth renting if just for the ending alone.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Southern Style Mumbo Jumbo, 27 Jun 2006
By prisrob "pris," (New EnglandUSA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)      
"It's like, hypnotism, right? Suggestion? And when this stuff works, its because someone believes it works?... And if you thought, you know, that magic made you sick... you might believe in a magic cure? " so says Caroline Ellis, the young Hospice worker,played by Kate Hudson.

Hoodoo (Not Voodoo, it's different. Hoodoo is an old African American magic that only works if you believe in it.) is at play in this southern thriller. Who knew from Voodoo? Caroline Ellis,(Kate Hudson) is a hospice worker who has thought about nursing school and who takes a job as a live-in caretaker in a sinister, decrepit plantation house located deep in the Louisiana Delta. This is a movie that purveys the darkness of the delta within the spectacular views of New Orleans before Katrina. Brings back memories to all of us. Caroline gradually discovers that nothing is as it first seemed, the old man is being held prisoner against his will, the house is possessed by voodoo spirits, and she may be trapped by their evil spell. Gena Rolwands plays Violet Devereaux. She inches her character ever closer to going over the top before reining her back in at the last moment. We believe that she is evil personified. Her husband, Ben Devereaux, is played by John Hurt. He has suffered a stroke and cannot speak or move. He is able to convey via his eyes the menacing harrow that is his, and Caroline Ellis is bound to save him. Kate Hudson does a memorable job of playing this role and her talent for acting is noted. This is a thriller that kept my interest. I was not prepared for the shocking ending, but was not surprised. This is not a movie that would have a so-so ending. This is one of the better thrillers in a while, and is certainly worth your time. The views of New Orleans before the Storm are more that worth your time.

This is a movie of characterization, IMO. Each character brings the suspense and moodiness that is needed to sustain the movie. Gena Rowlands, as always steals the scenes but John Hurt and Kate Hudson more than keep up their end. Voodoo/Hoodoo, all the same, brings the magic to this movie. Do you believe?
Recommended. prisrob 6/27/06
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Horror
After the death of a patient in hospital Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson) becomes dishearted and disillusioned with the business-like manner death is dealt with in hospitals and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dismal Angel

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual thriller with intelligent twist
This is an intelligent and unusual supernatural thriller. Set in pre-Katrina New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta (there is an excellent use of its locations), it stars Kate... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Andres C. Salama

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
"The Skeleton Key" is an interesting film, and provides something a little different from the standard "haunted house" fare. Read more
Published 12 months ago by B. D. Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars Seriously sinister super-natural thriller- 'It can't hurt you if you don't believe it'
I rented this movie on the basis that I had only seen Kate hudson in rom-coms, and wasn't sure of how well she'd do out of that genre. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ms. S. C. Bidwell

4.0 out of 5 stars A haunted house thriller with a twist
The Skeleton Key is a haunted house story with shades of Angel Heart, Misery and even an X-Files feel at times. Read more
Published 15 months ago by LXIX

4.0 out of 5 stars What a great movie
I really enjoyed this movie. I was thinking about it for days. The ending hit me by surprise. But then what should I have expected when it was written by the same person who wrote... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lady Juli Thorpe

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a go
I rented this DVD expecting the usual supernatural thriller with lots of faces in mirror type jumps and a twist ending along the line of they were all dead all along. Read more
Published 19 months ago by D. J. Ashley

5.0 out of 5 stars Will leave you stunned
This movie is not for overly sensitive or young individuals. It is a dark disturbing movie that includes voodoo and something called hoodoo and lots of black magic... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mary C

4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly silly but certainly entertaining.
A great film to watch with your friends on a dark winter evening this one. Suspend reality and enjoy this film for what it is- a slightly silly but enjoyable supernatural... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bezerus Bezby

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Watching
The cast did a wounderful job starting with Kate Hudson as Caroline, Gena Rolands as Violet and John Hurt as Ben. John Hurt had the most challenging role. Read more
Published 21 months ago by M. A. Ramos

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