Hey there, horror fans! Welcome to another edition of Underrated Horror Movie of the Month. Here is a quick rundown for anyone joining for the first time. Twice each month, on the second and fourth Fridays, I come here and talk about horror movies that I feel are underrated and underloved. I discuss the pros and cons of the chosen films and address some common issues addressed by fans. When picking a movie, no subgenre, decade or part of the world is left unchecked. I am talking about the 2005 film The Skeleton Key in this edition. Stick around to find out why I think it is underrated.

About The Skeleton Key

A young woman takes on a new position as an in-house caregiver in New Orleans. After starting her new job, Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson) finds herself entangled in a strange mystery. Something seems off about her patient and his wife. When Caroline discovers a locked room in the attic, information begins to come to light that will change everything.

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Hoodoo can’t hurt you if you don’t believe in it, but what happens if faith and belief start slipping in? Caroline doesn’t honor any religion or belief system, but that may be about to change.

John Hurt sits in a wheelchair while Kate Hudson stands in front of him while holding a bag and looking down in the film The Skeleton Key.

Pictured: John Hurt and Kate Hudson in THE SKELETON KEY

The Skeleton Key stars Kate Hudson, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard, Joy Bryant and Gena Rowlands. Iain Softly directed the film, and Ehren Kruger wrote the story.

This movie has a 37 percent Tomatometer Score and a 58 percent Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fun Fact: There are two films titled The Skeleton Key 2 and The Skeleton Key 3; however, they are not related to this film. They are spoofs and horror comedies.

My Thoughts

The first time I watched The Skeleton Key, I thought it was a little slow, but the twist ending made it worthwhile. After watching it again and diving into the nuances, there is much to say.

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First, I want to say that I cannot speak to how realistic the Hoodoo is or is not. That is not my culture, and I do not have enough education on the subject to have an opinion. That said, I did enjoy the visuals presented in the film.

As always, I perused online reviews to understand viewers’ reasons for low scores. As I went through review after review, 9/10 spoke about the movie being too slow, boring, not scary, etc. I have a few thoughts concerning these statements.

In terms of The Skeleton Key not being scary enough, it is not a typical horror, no. There aren’t any jump scares, there is no blood or gore, and it is not particularly graphic. All the scare factor rests in the story, which is multilayered and in-depth. I will try to skim the surface of the nuances to avoid spoilers.

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When a young woman grows weary of her hospice job, she takes another position as an in-home caregiver. Upon arrival to the town, everything immediately seems strange. As she settles into her new routine, her patient changes, as does his wife. While exploring the house, Caroline finds a room full of Hoodoo-related books, items needed for spells and odd records. At this point, she begins to learn more about the history of the house and those who came before. Dating back to slavery, the house has a terrible and tragic past. The more Caroline learns, the more frightening the situation becomes.

Getting into the meat of the story is incredibly difficult without giving away vital details. If you have not seen the film, it is best to go in with as little knowledge as possible. The story’s nuances entwine the present with the past, and you learn about those connections as the story develops. The real tragedy of it all is not what is happening presently; it is what has already occurred. It is the travesties committed against good people for no good reason.

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Some supernatural elements in The Skeleton Key change the normality in some situations. If something seems impossible, it is most likely tied to elements beyond the natural.

Finally, I want to address the thought that this movie is boring. This one will be boring for anyone who loves spooks and scares around every corner. Additionally, the blood and guts crowd will not love this film. However, it is a fantastic watch if you are into horror movies with epic stories and indescribable twists.

Kate Hudson looks through a book while shining a flashlight in a darkened room in the film The Skeleton Key.

Pictured: Kate Hudson in THE SKELETON KEY

Looking back, there are several clues to the twist, but I did not see them until the third or fourth time I watched it through. This film has some heavy topics, but it is absolutely worth the time and effort, at least once. Plus, it features the iconic John Hurt as the stroke victim.

Final Thoughts

The Skeleton Key is unlike any other movie I have seen. Take that as you will. There are some aspects I wish had been done differently, but it still shines for its use of story to build suspense and terror. This film is available to stream through Starz.

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There you have it, horror fans, another underrated film in the books. Have you seen this one? If so, do you think it is too boring? Let us know in the comments. Also, comment with your suggestion for which movie I should feature next.

Until next time, enjoy the trailer for The Skeleton Key below. Stay spooky and watch more horror movies!

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