HooDoo VooDoo (The Skeleton Key (DVD))

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	The Skeleton Key (DVD)
Date:	28/07/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Enjoyable & easy to watch as plot isn't too complex

Disadvantages: Nothing too original or chilling about it

I watched this when it was on the television a few weeks ago as it caught my eye, me the horror/thriller fan I am! I can't say it's original in that much of the ground has been covered many a time before, but it's worth a watch.

The Skeleton key was released in 2005 and is rated certificate 15, probably because it's deemed 'scary'. It was directly by Iain Softley, who also worked on Hackers (Jolie), so he knows what he's doing when it comes to polishing scenes to grip your attention.

The premise of the film is relatively straight forward. Carline Ellis, played by Kate Hudson, is a 25 year old hospice worker. The link with her dad, who died without her being there for him from an illness, is designed to pull a few heart strings. She sets off for a new job that has a more personal feel that at the care centre she currently works in, and finds an advertisement for an elderly couple needing a care worker.

After an interview accompanied by the couples lawyer, Luke Marshall (played by Peter Sarsgaard), Caroline gets the job, slightly concerned by the woman's distaste towards her and the talk of the previous carers who quit.

Caroline is a given a room in their house; the house in more a mansion, with huge grounds, in the middle of nowhere. She is there to help the wife, Violet Devereaux (played by Gena Rowlands) look after her husband Ben (played by John Hurt).

Violet explains that Ben suffered a stroke whilst in the attic, which, strangely enough, has a door to a 'secret room'. Consequently Ben is unable to move or speak and so John Hurt's role is fairly minimal.

Caroline is given a skeleton key, hence the name of the film, which grants her access to all of the rooms in the house, bar the secret room. After probing Violet she discovers what apparently happened in that room; owner's of the house from way back had two helpers, whom they caught teaching black magic to their children in that room during a party with adults downstairs. Being drunk and taking the offence so seriously, the helpers are hung outside.

Caroline shrugs this it off as she doesn't believe in such nonsense (Hoodoo), neither does she believe that their ghosts can be seen in the mirrors which was the explanation given as to why there are no mirrors in the house.

Without giving too much away, within the 100 minutes of this film we see Caroline befriend Ben and she notices something about him and the situation isn't quite right. With help from her friend Jill, she dips her toes into black magic to try to uncover what's going on in the house.

** May Spoil Slighty... ** Catherine comes to the conclusion that Violet cast a black magic spell on her husband, and turns to the Lawyer nearby to confide in and ask for help. But all is not as it seems, and there's a nice twist towards the end of the film.

As for the acting, I think everyone was fairly well cast. Even Hudson surprised me as she was quite convincing and watchable, given the slightly dubious storyline.

The storyline itself as you can tell isn't anything particularly new. The ending is one that can annoy, but I don't want to say much without giving it away.

The direction and scenes in general are quite good quality. Flashbacks are quick, vivid and effective, and the camera work is clear (unlike other thrillers which try to captivate you by swinging the camera and putting it peoples noses!).

The Skeleton Key managed to keep my attention, but I can't say I was gripped completely by it. That's probably because of the storyline, which I had predicted before the twist occurred anyway.

That said, it was an entertaining film that was fairly enjoyable and easy to watch. It's not one I'll be buying for my DVD collection, but horror/thriller fans may want to give it a look. It's not something I can say I found scary in the slightest, but there are moments of suspense and build up that make it a worthwhile film to watch if you get the chance.

Summary: A somewhat average film that's worth a watch but not one to rush out and buy