"One of the most enjoyably inane movies of the season, this faux Southern Gothic offers an embarrassment of geek pleasures." Manohla Dargis NEW YORK TIMES "A preposterously enjoyable Southern gothic thriller." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL "Engrossing, nice atmosphere, and with a clever twist." Victoria Alexander FILMSINREVIEW.COM "A spellbinding chiller." Colin Covert MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE A diverting, stylish thriller that, despite pivoting on that and other whoppers, deserves credit for creating an authentic, original vibe." Ann Hornaday WASHINGTON POST

"Though the story is as creaky as a plantation porch, Iain Softley's lushly atmospheric The Skeleton Key does offer a few nifty twists on the classic 'woman in peril' picture." Elizabeth Weitzman NEW YORK DAILY NEWS "This is a moody, creepy thriller with some genuinely scary moments and a couple of twists that took me completely by surprise." Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER ""The Skeleton Key" admittedly features a nifty final twist, one that most viewers surely won't see coming. Even more gratifying, when they find themselves mentally going over Caroline's steps in order to find portents of what finally transpires, they will be reentering a world worth coming back to." Ann Hornaday WASHINGTON POST "A pretty good movie." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS "Now you've heard about the twist ending…it's not giving anything away to say that there IS one, and it's a doozy." Eric Lurio GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE

The Inside Story

"There's a refreshing cleanliness and sparseness to the storytelling here, no digressions into drawn-out horror set pieces, no gratuitous displays of violence and gore." Eugene Novikov FILM BLATHER

Entertainment Weekly movie critic Scott Brown was on the mark when he summed up "The Skeleton Key" by saying, "For anyone zombified by creaky thriller cliches, Skeleton is a fine little shot in the head." And that's what it really really is. A fine little film if your into things that, like Hoodoo, work on the mind. Let me explain. I've sat in with three audiences now and I can guarantee you, try as hard as I could, armed with the knowlege of what was coming up, I was powerless to stop myself from jumping in my seat on a number of times. And, I didn't feel too bad about getting suckered in because everyone around me suffered the same fate. "The Skeleton Key" is not a slasher style horror film. It's not an outrageously over the top horror film. It's just an entertaining and at times, oh all right, lots of times creepy film just like screenwriter Ehren Kruger's previous films "The Ring" and "The Ring 2". "I wanted to write a distinctly American, non-traditional ghost story," says screenwriter Ehren Kruger, who in 1996 received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. "The South, especially Louisiana, struck me as a pure American milieu, a cultural melting pot. I thought that one way to create a unique ghost story would be to have the audience question whether or not they are, in fact, seeing a ghost story at all. I also believe that a classic Gothic notion among most human beings is a desire to find out what is behind the forbidden door. I actually wanted to find out for myself what would be behind that attic door." Now that's a subject we are all familiar with, right? The old, don't touch, don't go in there and what ever you do don't open that door syndrome or you will find yourself in big trouble. Director and Producer Iain Softley says the film is more than a supernatural thriller. It's a psychological thriller! "Some of my favorite films are psychological thrillers, like Don’t Look Now, Rosemary’s Baby, Angel Heart. I felt that this script followed along the same lines. It was both intelligent and thematically rich, as well as really entertaining." Softley had some other views on the film. "I thought the script was a wonderful page-turner, and it was so evocative of sense of place, New Orleans and the Deep South, but it also had a wonderful mood. I also thought that it dealt with aging, which is something that makes a lot of people uncomfortable, in a very interesting way. I’ve always been drawn to psychological horror because it deals with our perceptions, what we imagine to be going on," he said. "Oftentimes, that is far scarier than anything that is actually represented." Producer Daniel Bobker, who brought the script to Softley describes the film as "lushly atmospheric and haunting, which I think the best ghost stories are. You want to feel someone breathing behind your neck." On that score he says "Iain Softley is the ideal kind of director for this material. He’s a naturalist who brings great reality, an almost unnerving quality to what he’s shooting." With a Director on board and Universal Pictures behind the project the next step was to cast the film. Softley says the first actor they thought of in the lead role of Caroline Ellis was Academy Award ® nominee Kate Hudson. "When Kate first saw it, she loved it and was cast," Softley said. Then came a bombshell. Kate found herself pregnant. That meant putting the production on hold for a year. "It turned out to be a good decision because I think that the birth of her baby has given her the maturity and added life experiences that have definitely helped give extra layers to what she has brought to the film." Of her character Hudson says, "Caroline is a serious girl which I found intriguing. It was nice not to have to smile all the time. She’s a curious, strong young woman who becomes increasingly isolated as the story unfolds." Hudson even did all her own stunts in the film. "I think the stunt coordinator was surprised to find out that my coordination was pretty good," Hudson said. "I got to break windows, climb up a two-story trellis and crawl through mud in the pouring rain. One day I looked down at my knees and they were black and blue, just like when I was a kid and played soccer." Playing opposite Kate are Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard and Joy Bryant. "The truly classic horror films are often grounded with illustrious actors who make the story feel both immediate and real, in a way that allows the audience to believe in it all," says Bobker. "We were extremely lucky to land master thespians like Gena Rowlands and John Hurt to play the Devereauxs, as they provide the Louisiana setting and culture with a layer of exquisite richness and authenticity." Producer Stacey Sher who has produced the Academy Award® nominated films Erin Brockovich and Pulp Fiction says, "Working with distinguished actors the caliber of Gena Rowlands and John Hurt is like going to acting school for everybody. Gena is so compelling in her part that she looks like she’s lived in that house all her life. And John, who barely has a word of dialogue in the entire film, brings tremendous sympathy to a central role at the crux of the mystery of the house." Of her character Violet, Golden Globe Award winning actress Gena Rowlands said, "I play a very spooky old lady who works at keeping Kate’s character, Caroline, off-balance. Violet spends much of her time in her garden because, like Violet herself, a garden transforms itself every year. I can relate to this." Acclaimed actor John Hurt believes the film has all the "right ingredients for a good thriller. Every thread of the story has to be kept visible all the way through and then paid off neatly. The clues may be disguised a bit, but they must be evident in the end to make the story work. Ehren Kruger has created such a script." There is one star that may go unnoticed. That is the location. "There is no substitute for being on a location like this one," says producer Daniel Bobker. "It gives the kind of production value and atmosphere you can never get in Hollywood. It helps the actors with their preparation and understanding of their characters, and fortunately for us, Iain sensed the texture of this place. There is no question that all of this contributes to a richer, more authentic film." Director Softley agrees. "This was my first visit to this city. I was struck by how truly evocative New Orleans is. I never knew how close the swamp encroached into town, or how vast and beautiful it is. I thought the film would have more authenticity if we added some of the wonderful elements and flavors that are unique to this city, including the amazing music." Crew Bytes "THE SKELETON KEY" was .......
directed by Iain Softley ["Backbeat", "Hackers", "The Wings of the Dove" and "K-PAX"]; screenplay by Ehren Kruger ["Arlington Road", "Reindeer Games", "The Ring", "The Ring Two" and "The Brothers Grimm"]; costume design by Louise Frogley ["Traffic", "The Rules of Attraction", "Man On Fire" and "Constantine"]; production design by John Beard ["Splitting Heirs", "Enigma", "K-PAX" and "Thunderbirds"]; edited by Joe Hutshing ["Born on the Fourth of July", "Meet Joe Black", "Almost Famous" and "Something's Gotta Give"]; cinematography by Daniel Mindel ["Enemy of the State", "Spy Game", "The Bourne Identity" and "Stuck On You"]; original music by Ed Shearmur ["Charlie's Angels", "K-PAX", "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle", "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" and "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous"] produced by Iain Softley ["Hackers"], Daniel Bobker ["The Brothers Grimm"], Michael Shamberg ["Pulp Fiction", "Erin Brockovich", "Camp", "Along Came Polly" and "Garden State"] and Stacey Sher ["The Fisher King", "Get Shorty", "Erin Brockovich", "Garden State" and "Be Cool"]. Casting About "THE SKELETON KEY" stars .......
Kate Hudson ["200 Cigarettes", "Almost Famous", "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "Le Divorce"]; Gena Rowlands ["The High Cost of Loving", "The Brink's Job", "Taking Lives" and "The Notebook"]; Dual EMMY Award winner; Golden Globe Award and San Sebastian Film Festival Award winner, Peter Sarsgaard ["The Man In The Iron Mask", "K-19: The Widowmaker", "Shattered Glass", "Garden State" and "Kinsey"]; Joy Bryant ["Antwone Fisher", "How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass", "Honey" and "Spider-Man 2"]; Ronald McCall ["Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Mutant Species"]; Maxine Barnett ["Max" and "The Epicureans"]; Isaach De Bankolé ["A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries", "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai", "The Killing Zone" and "Coffee and Cigarettes"]; Forrest Landis ["Cheaper By The Dozen" and "Little Athens"]; Jamie Lee Redmon ["Seabiscuit"], Ann Dalrymple ["Schizopolis" and "Dangerous Proposition"] and 1963 Critics’ Most Promising Actor Award, 1984 Evening Standard Best Actor Award, EMMY, BAFTA, Variety Club Award winner John Hurt ["The Elephant Man", "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues", "Rob Roy", "Contact", "The Commissioner", "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and "Hellboy"] as Ben Devereaux. What It's All About

"A creepy, atmospheric and lushly filmed supernatural thriller" Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS

Disillusioned with her job, Caroline Ellis answers a newspaper advert for a live-in carer. The salary of $1000 a week is very attractive and it's only an hour out of New Orleans. It sounds ideal. Violet Devereaux needs someone to care for and tend to the needs of her husband Ben, who has suffered a stroke, is unable speak and is virtually paralyzed. The Devereaux's live in a foreboding mansion on the Louisiana Delta. Initially Violet rejects Caroline as unsuitable but relents at the insistence of her attorney Luke who convinces Violet she won't find a better candidate for the position than Caroline. Caroline moves in and is given a skelton key, one which will open every door in the mansion. Her curiosity gets the better of her and it isn't long before she is exploring the various rooms including the attic where nobody goes. How can that be. The attic is where Mr Devereaux was found when he had his stroke. Behind a cupboard in the attic Caroline discovers there is a door. Strangely, the skeleton key doesn't fit the lock. The room hasn't been opened for decades and there's a good reason why as Caroline is about to find out. On the Louisiana Delta, where locals practice the ancient art of Hoodoo, mysterious, powerful forces are at work. The Verdict "If you go in expecting big scares and violent spiritual confrontations you'll be terribly disappointed. There's plenty of scary moments that will have you jumping in your seat, but like Hoodoo, this is a film which confronts the mind. Gena Rowlands puts in a stella performance as Violet Devereaux stealing the show from Kate Hudson. John Hurt is solid even though he's playing a mute, near totally paralyzed character. Peter Sarsgaard is workman-like as the attorney Luke while Kate Hudson is suitably convincing as Caroline Ellis. Plenty of creepy moments ensure you'll get your monies worth out of "The Skeleton Key". Recommended. The Cast

Kate Hudson Gena Rowlands John Hurt Peter Sarsgaard Joy Bryant Maxine Barnett Fahnlohnee Harris Marion Zinser Deneen Tyler Ann Dalrymple Trula Marcus Tonya Staten Thom Uskali Jen Apgar Forrest Landis Jamie Lee Redmon Ronald McCall Jeryl Prescott Sales Isaach De Bankolé Christa Thorne Lakrishi Kindred Lawrence 'King' Harvey Mark Krasnoff Sabah Susannah Thorarinsson Bill H. McKenzie

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Caroline Ellis Violet Devereaux Ben Devereaux Luke Jill Mama Cynthia Hallie Bayou Woman Desk Nurse C.N.A. Nurse Trula Nurse Audrey Robertson Thorpe Madeleine Thorpe Martin Thorpe Grace Thorpe Papa Justify Mama Cecile Creole Gas Station Owner Creole Mother Frail Customer Bar Man Pickup Driver Luke's Secretary Waitress in Bar Mr Talcott

The Crew Directed by Iain Softley Written by Ehren Kruger Produced by Daniel Bobker/Michael Shamberg/Stacey Sher/Iain Softley Original Music by Ed Shearmur Cinematography by Daniel Mindel Film Editing by Joe Hutshing Casting by Lisa Mae Fincannon & Ronna Kress Production Design by John Beard Art Direction by Drew Boughton & Suttirat Anne Larlarb Set Decoration by Fontaine Beauchamp Hebb Costume Design by Louise Frogley Run Time 104 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Universal Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved