The Skeleton Key Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)August 10th, 2005
THE SKELETON KEY
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *
A "scary" movie that isn't scary, THE SKELETON KEY ranges from deadly dull to perfectly predictable, save possibly an out-of-left field twist at the end. Working from a by-the-numbers script by Ehren Kruger (THE RING series), the film is clumsily directed by Iain Softley (HACKERS and BACKBEAT).
The movie, a Southern gothic "thriller" set in the Louisiana swamps, lumbers along like a zombie on Valium. In the plot, an old couple, played with phoned-in performances by Gena Rowlands and John Hurt, have some voodoo issues to deal with. Banning mirrors is one of the techniques tried.
In a departure from her usual romantic comedy roles, the normally reliable Kate Hutson delivers a performance that's as lifeless as the rest of this hopeless movie. Peter Sarsgaard plays a character so unbelievable that it's pointless to say who he claims he is.
The film relies on all of the standard horror movie techniques, from sudden, loud thunder to mysterious guys who suddenly appear in the frame and end up nose to nose with our heroine.
The movie isn't worth your time to analyze its intricate logic about which voodoo spells do what. And, if you make the mistake of thinking too much about this stupid picture, you'll only get angrier that you wasted your time on it.
THE SKELETON KEY runs an extremely long 1:44. It is rated PG-13 for "violence, disturbing images, some partial nudity and thematic material" and would be acceptable for kids around 12 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, August 12, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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