The Skeleton Key (Film Review)

2005 Universal Pictures
Directed by: Iain Softley; Written by: Ehren Kruger
Starring: Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, Joy Bryant, and John Hurt
MPAA Rating: PG-13; Running Time: 104 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 7/10

Caroline is tired of the cold way her New Orleans hospice deals with patients. When she sees a caretaker want ad for a paralyzed old man in a rural, swamp-neighboring plantation home, Caroline jumps at the chance. Now, she can finally make a difference! However, the plantation caretaker life isn't all it's cut out to be. The paralyzed man's wife is snappy, has an attitude, and seems to be holding onto some secrets. The house seems to have its secrets too, particularly the attic, whose secret room houses many occult objects. There's history here that Caroline is unfamiliar with...but maybe history Caroline is doomed to repeat...
I still contend that if the movie critics of the 90s and 00s had known the quality of cinema that was to come, they would have been far more lenient in some of their reviews. Case in point, 2005's The Skeleton Key. Under the hand of experienced director, Iain Softley, the film is full of fun Louisiana Gothic Horror atmosphere, from the fog rising from the swamp, to late-night trumpets in a New Orleans bar, to the clickity-clack of animal bones. Kate Hudson gives a mature, charismatic leading performance of which few twenty-somethings today seem capable. She also looks, to me at least, about as beautiful as any woman has ever looked on screen, and somehow, though she apparently just had a baby, more fit than this eight-time marathon runner has ever been. When the SUPPORTING players are Gena Rowlands (who herself gave arguably the greatest performance of all time in 1977's Opening Night) and John Hurt (the Elephant Man, himself!), who both jumped on The Skeleton Key because of the script, a film generally has pretty great chances. As for that script, it's penned by late 90's/early 00's horror wunderkind, Ehren Kruger, who was then known for his twist endings, and the kicker here is indeed pretty satisfying (Kruger then went on to a second life shilling out Transformers scripts, but is likely more enjoying his third life, where he has recently written megahits Top Gun: Maverick and F1).
Now, I'm not saying The Skeleton Key is a horror classic. There are some clumsy moments in the direction and script, and the film should likely be 5-10 minutes shorter. However, The Skeleton Key is a ton of fun, from a time when Peter Sarsgaard could pop up anywhere, and the kind of film critics seem to appreciate far more now...but who cares what they say anyway...
except for The Nicsperiment, right?