Geekatana Movie Review: The Skeleton Key

What's Halloween month without a scary movie review to go with it. But instead of reviewing the latest horror flick in theaters like Halloween I've decided to review one of my old favorite horror films back in 2005. Not to be confused with 1978 movie Skeleton Key which was a sci-fi noir film. 

I went to watch this film one night with a friend back in 2005 since we wanted to waste some time at the movies. I seriously wasn't really expecting much from it but it easily blew my expectations and its probably one of my favorite horror mystery film since.

The Skeleton Key is an American supernatural horror film directed by Iain Softley, written by Ehren Kruger It stars Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard and Joy Bryant.

The plot circles on a young hospice nurse Caroline Ellis played by Kate who acquires a job at a Terrebonne Parish plantation home, and becomes entangled in a supernatural mystery involving the house, its former inhabitants and the hoodoo rituals and spells that took place there.

The story is pretty good although it does slow down on certain scenes but the movie does an excellent job of setting up atmosphere. This movie is part mystery and black magic. It has its fair share of jump scares that fans of horror will surely love.

The twist and turns of the story as Caroline hunts to find the truth about the house, its occupants and the skeleton key she came across in the course of the film is definitely this movies high points. I've had my fair share of horror movies and this has one of the best story twist in horror movies I've seen in a while.

I've also read somewhere that the Skeleton Key (2005) movie mirrors that of the film Get Out (2017). If a film is being copied years later then you got to be doing something good. I just find it funny Get Out got an award for original screenplay when its obviously mirroring the Skeleton Key plots.

The cinematography isn't perfect yet the flaws are so small you won't notice them unless you got a sharp eye for details.  This movie reminds me of Phantasmagoria and in a good way. The Skeleton Key juggles suspense, atmosphere and storytelling nicely enough that it will keep you on edge right unto the final minutes of the film.

The character are fleshed out enough and you find yourself drawn by the characters specially the estrange old folks of the house and the plight of Caroline as he tries to find the truth. Sure Caroline would have probably left the house at the first sign of danger but hey this

The movie does fall into a lot of the horror cliche in most films like how Caroline could have probably left the house and call the authorities at the first sign of danger but that's a given to most horror movies.

Skeleton Key is a decent horror film that I'd easily recommend to anyone who love horror movies. The atmosphere, sound and jump scars are done well enough to keep you on edge. I'm still surprised no sequel was made and yet Get Out gets an award for original screenplay. Ill easily recommend this to anyone who loves horror film with a little mystery and unexpected twists.