The skeleton key

Year of release : 2005

Run time : 1h44min

Genre : Supernatural Horror / Mystery / Thriller / Folk Horror

Cast : Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt

Caroline, a hospice nurse,is sick of seeing the old people in the nursing home she works at being discarded by their families,who won't even come to get them or their things once they're dead.

She decides to find somebody bedridden,at home,and care for them.

Against her best friend's advice,she starts working on a plantation house in the wetlands of Lousiana, taking care of the old man who supposedly had a stroke on both sides of his body.

From the getgo,the old lady doesn't like her, and keeps on asking her weird questions about her body,like if she's tattooed.

She starts confiding in the young lawyer who supposedly helps the old people,who says things like "if a woman invites you in her room,she's not much of a lady" or to the old woman "you know you're the only woman in my life".

 

The old woman starts telling her ghost stories about the previous owners saying that's the reason there's no mirror in the house,because they can see the ghosts in them,and also the reason her husband had a stroke.

At the same time, Caroline starts believing in hoodoo,the magic the people of the place believe in,which has to be believed in to work.

This is one of my favorite movies, and I must admit, watching it,and knowing what's happening, it was bittersweet.

Just like The Ring,it's an atmospheric movie,as most of the time, it's raining.

The actors each held their own,and gave their best.

 

The music had southern influences and I love the song which closes the movie,which is also played the night before she leaves for the plantation,Johnny Farm's 'Death letter'.

The visual effects still stand the test of time.

The movie received positive reviews, and grossed 94 million dollars at the box office against a budget of 43 million.

 

The movie is for 7 days free on Philo, Starz on Amazon Prime Video, Starz on The Roku Channel, with subscription on Starz, Starz AppleTv Channels, and for rent / sale on Amazon, AppleTv, Fandango at Home.

Rating : The stuff dreams are made of!