The Skeleton Key (2005)

Set in New Orleans and focusing on Kate Hudson as a Hospice nurse to a couple (Gena Rowlands and John Hurt), “The Skeleton Key” is a supernatural flick that owes more to “Amazing Stories” or “Outer Limits” than traditional horror genre. With the location, one knows there will be hoodoo and a gothic Southern home, and “Key” plays by the rules. Yet, it’s a kick, from the clever reveals to the acting that shifts as … personalities do. Peter Sarsgaard once again plays the guy you can’t quite figure out, and that’s not a slam. Rowlands also rocks. Only one scene irks: Hudson heroically (but dumbly) stashes a sickly Hurt into her Volkswagen and tries to make off, but she ends up crashing the bug repeatedly. Unintended laughs follow. Thankfully the film gets back on track for a cool “gotcha” ending. Much silly spooky fun. B+