Lots of weird things start happening around the house and though Caroline doesn't believe in voodoo, she suspects that both Violet and her husband do. Caroline also starts to suspect that Violet has nefarious plans for her and may be behind her husband's illness. Telling you more would ruin the various surprises that screenwriter Ehren Kruger and director Ian Softley have in store for the audience.

"The Skeleton Key" has a lot of the trademark jumps of many horror films. When the music swells or the camera pulls in very close to a charatcer walking slowly around a darkened room, you can be assured that something or someone will jump out at them. Where Kruger and Softley surpass these cliches is by using lighting and various film stocks to give the film a darker feel. They are also assisted by a terrific cast and a perfect setting. Hudson and Rowlands both do a very good job, as does Peter Saarsgard as Violet's attorney and Caroline's possible love interest and nothing could be creepier than a huge mansion in an isolated and dark swamp.

There is a big twist ending and that should have audiences speading the good word about the film. As for problems, they are very few and minor. For instance, the pacing could have been a little better early on and the twists leading up to the big one could have been a little more subtle. Overall, "The Skeleton Key" was a nice surprise and should thrill audiences at the theater and on DVD for a long time. **