The Skeleton Key (2005)
The Skeleton Key (2005) is an American Southern Gothic supernatural horror film directed by Iain Softley and written by Ehren Kruger. Caroline Ellis, a hospice aide, leaves her job at a nursing home and takes on the role of caretaker for an isolated plantation house in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Violet Devereaux, the elderly matriarch of the house, is in need of assistance caring for her husband Benjamin, who has been mostly paralyzed following a stroke. Upon the suggestion of the family’s estate lawyer, Luke Marshall, Caroline accepts the position. During a storm, Ben attempts to escape his room and Caroline decides to explore the attic where Ben had his stroke. She uses a skeleton key given to her by Violet and uncovers a secret chamber filled with ritual objects.
Confronting Violet about this discovery, she learns that the room once belonged to two African American servants who worked at the house 90 years prior. The household staff, Mama Cecile and Papa Justify, were famous practitioners of hoodoo. They were lynched following a ritual they performed with the owners’ two children. Later on, Violet and Ben purchased the same house where this incident took place. Violet confides in Caroline that they don’t keep any mirrors in the house because they fear seeing reflections of Cecile and Justify. Caroline discovers a phonograph record in the attic titled Conjure of Sacrifice, featuring Papa Justify reciting a hoodoo ritual. She suspects that Ben’s stroke may have been caused by hoodoo practices but believes his paralysis is simply his own negative beliefs rather than something supernatural at work.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Kate HudsonCaroline Ellis  Gena RowlandsViolet Devereaux  John HurtBen Devereaux  Peter SarsgaardLuke Marshall  Joy BryantJill |
The Skeleton Key (2005) is an American Southern Gothic supernatural horror film directed by Iain Softley and written by Ehren Kruger. Caroline Ellis, a hospice aide, leaves her job at a nursing home and takes on the role of caretaker for an isolated plantation house in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Violet Devereaux, the elderly matriarch of the house, is in need of assistance caring for her husband Benjamin, who has been mostly paralyzed following a stroke. Upon the suggestion of the family’s estate lawyer, Luke Marshall, Caroline accepts the position. During a storm, Ben attempts to escape his room and Caroline decides to explore the attic where Ben had his stroke. She uses a skeleton key given to her by Violet and uncovers a secret chamber filled with ritual objects.
Confronting Violet about this discovery, she learns that the room once belonged to two African American servants who worked at the house 90 years prior. The household staff, Mama Cecile and Papa Justify, were famous practitioners of hoodoo. They were lynched following a ritual they performed with the owners’ two children. Later on, Violet and Ben purchased the same house where this incident took place. Violet confides in Caroline that they don’t keep any mirrors in the house because they fear seeing reflections of Cecile and Justify. Caroline discovers a phonograph record in the attic titled Conjure of Sacrifice, featuring Papa Justify reciting a hoodoo ritual. She suspects that Ben’s stroke may have been caused by hoodoo practices but believes his paralysis is simply his own negative beliefs rather than something supernatural at work.
