Hoodoo that Voodoo that you do so well?
Hoodoo is defined by Answers.com as magic healing and control, especially in African-based folk medicine in the United States and Caribbean. It is a magic that can only work on you if you believe. In
The Skeleton Key, hospice worker Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson) finds herself in a whole heap of hoodoo as she cares for an aging stroke victim in the backwoods of Louisiana.
She has decided against the advice of her best friend, Jill (Joy Bryant) to take the job and is at first intrigued by the eccentricities of the aging couple she is living with - such as there being no mirrors at all hanging in the house. The intrigue she initially feels slowly turns to fear as she uses the infamous skeleton key to let herself into a blocked off room in the attic. The attic being the place her patient, Ben Deveraux (John Hurt) had his stroke.
Eventually, Caroline gets wife Violet Deveraux (Gena Rowlands) to tell her the story of why there are no mirrors in the house and that room in the attic is locked. As she soon learns, sometimes it is just better to leave well enough alone. The more Caroline searches, the more she comes to believe that Violet may actually have had something to do with her husband's current condition. She seeks the help of estate lawyer Luke (Peter Sarsgaard), whom it is quite obvious has a little thing for her, to free Ben from Violet's clutches. But does Caroline really know who she can trust?
The Skeleton Key starts out with a really great story, however it fails to end it in a way that lives up to its potential. It is as if at some point the writer just gave up and said - look I have to end it somehow. And there were really a lot of plot holes. It's unfortunate too because it had the potential to be an awesome movie. The mood and setting were perfect. The actors were all very good and very well directed. In the end, it is the story itself that falls apart. I have to say that even though the ending was not what I would have liked it to be, it did give you a great one liner.
All in all,
The Skeleton Key was the little movie that could've, but it just didn't. Having said that I would recommend a viewing - just realize that it is a bit anti-climactic.
The Skeleton Key Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Iain Softley
Writing credits (WGA)
Ehren Kruger (written by)
Cast (in credits order)
Kate Hudson .... Caroline Ellis
Gena Rowlands .... Violet Devereaux
John Hurt .... Ben Devereaux
Peter Sarsgaard .... Luke
Joy Bryant .... Jill
Maxine Barnett .... Mama Cynthia
Fahnlohnee R. Harris .... Hallie (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
Marion Zinser .... Bayou Woman
Deneen Tyler .... Desk Nurse
Ann Dalrymple .... C.N.A.
Trula M. Marcus .... Nurse Trula (as Trula Marcus)
Tonya Staten .... Nurse Audrey
Thomas Uskali .... Robertson Thorpe (as Tom Uskali)
Jen Apgar .... Madeleine Thorpe
Forrest Landis .... Martin Thorpe
Jamie Lee Redmon .... Grace Thorpe
Ronald McCall .... Papa Justify
Jeryl Prescott .... Mama Cecile (as Jeryl Prescott Sales)
Isaach De Bankolé .... Creole Gas Station Owner
Christa Thorne .... Creole Mother
Lakrishi Kindred .... Frail Customer
Lawrence 'King' Harvey .... Bar Man
Mark Krasnoff .... Pickup Driver
Sabah .... Luke's Secretary
Susannah Thorarinsson .... Waitress in Bar
Bill H. McKenzie .... Mr. Talcott
Joe Chrest .... Paramedic
David Curtis .... Party Guest
Tiffany Helland .... Party Guest
Brian Ruppert .... Party Guest
Philip Frazier .... Rebirth Brass Band
Derek Shezbie .... Rebirth Brass Band
Glen Andrews .... Rebirth Brass Band
Stafford Agee .... Rebirth Brass Band
Keith Frazier .... Rebirth Brass Band
Derrick Tabb .... Rebirth Brass Band
Shamar Allen .... Rebirth Brass Band
Byron Bernard .... Rebirth Brass Band
Herbert Stevens .... Rebirth Brass Band
George Harper .... Jazz Band
Howard McCary .... Jazz Band
Kevin O'Neal .... Jazz Band
Ryan Porter .... Jazz Band
Ryan Regalado .... Jazz Band
Nolan Shaheed .... Jazz Band
Dustin Fleetwood .... 3rd Infantry Band Member
Roderick Harrison .... 3rd Infantry Band Member
Torrey McKinley .... 3rd Infantry Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andreas Beckett .... Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Natasha Delahunt .... Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
David Jensen .... Country doctor (uncredited)
Melissa Reneé Martin .... Caviar Eating Guest (uncredited)
Natalie McNeil .... Cigar Smoking Party Guest (uncredited)
Sarah Pettycrew .... Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Joel Schmidt .... Terrebonne Sheriff (uncredited)
L.J. Stevens .... Older Grace (uncredited)More The Skeleton Key Movie Reviews
The Skeleton Key Movie Official SiteThe Skeleton Key Movie Review and Information Page at The Internet Movie Database
