The Skeleton Key

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections

Unlocking the themes of The Skeleton Key

Horror films, despite the dark exterior, have a tendency to portray spirituality and religious themes more vividly than most other genres. Because these films deal with the subject of fear, and because one of the greatest sources of fear is the unknown, they often deal with the supernatural, faith and religion. Because we fear things that are blatantly malevolent, horror films usually portray a strong distinction between good and evil—a distinction that may not be so clear-cut in other types of film.

Though The Skeleton Key fits the mold of the traditional horror film, it’s still one of the few non-remakes in theaters. It follows Caroline (Kate Hudson), a healthcare worker trying to find relief from a guilty conscience that stems from not being present at her father’s death. Because of this guilt, she quits her job and moves into the Louisiana bayou as a hospice caretaker. At the dilapidated old plantation house where she works, her responsibility is to take care of Ben (John Hurt), who has been recently paralyzed from a recent mysterious encounter in the attic. Though Ben’s wife, Violet (Gena Rowlands) isn’t so kind to Caroline, she puts her in charge of Ben’s well being and gives her a “skeleton key.” The skeleton key is supposed to unlock every door in the house, but Caroline finds one door in the attic that won’t open … (Cue lightening flashes)

The premise for The Skeleton Key is a tried-and-true formula. Its blend of creaky boards, fluttering drapes and someone-is-watching-you camera angles adds to the suspense created by the mystery-laced plot (which mixes obvious and not-so-obvious clues to keep interests peaked). While standing on the shoulders of classic horror giants, The Skeleton Key combines these elements with the “paranoid woman’s film” subgenre popular in the 1940s. This throwback to the classics creates something refreshingly nostalgic yet wholly intriguing on its own.

The setting of the film is important not only for ambiance, but for the culture. A form of folk magic called hoodoo (voodoo without the claim of God’s involvement) plays a vital role in the story. The presence of these superstitious rituals allows the film to comment on the thin line between true spirituality and psychological placebos. To explore the difference between the two, it repeatedly addresses the topic of “belief.”

For Christians, belief is an essential element of salvation—specifically belief in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; John 3:16-18). But is belief enough in itself? Is it our belief alone that saves us? The Skeleton Key seems to initially say that belief in anything gives that thing supernatural power—again, citing the psychological influence of suggestion. Though Caroline is skeptical about the power of hoodoo, she finds herself going through some of the rituals. She justifies it by explaining that though she doesn’t believe in hoodoo, it can help the believers around her feel empowered. The result is that she slowly develops personal belief in the rituals. The belief itself, however, is not enough to bring about her ultimate salvation. That salvation comes from a different source … Or does it? (More lightening flashes)

For many people, Christian or not, belief in the historical figure of Christ is not a hard pill to swallow. His existence is documented in sources other than the Bible; so therefore, most people acknowledge that there was a person named Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified less than 2000 years ago. Belief in His deity, His perfection and His sacrificial death, however, takes more than cross-referencing historical documents. Belief is essential, but it can’t stand on its own. Demons have a profound belief in Christ (James 2:19), but they’re not winning any stars in their crowns for it. For the Christian, as for Caroline, there must be more than simple belief. Because of the spiritual nature of the claims of Christ’s divinity, it takes faith.

In The Skeleton Key, Caroline’s belief goes from complete skepticism to belief based on personal experience. Though salvation is initially prodded by an experience with the divine (the Holy Spirit), it’s not empirical evidence that leads a person into a relationship with Christ. Because scientific law cannot explain spiritual things, belief in the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death requires faith—the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1).

Sacrifice also plays a vital role in the film, subtly portrayed as an attempt for atonement. Though Caroline’s guilt for missing her father’s death makes her a more compassionate for the elderly, it also puts her in danger. Caroline stays in the eerie plantation house, despite the secrets she gradually uncovers, because she sees care for Ben as an opportunity to atone for her guilty conscience. Christians, like Caroline, can’t receive atonement by doing good things (Ephesians 2:8). In the film as well as in the Christian belief system, a sacrifice is necessary for atonement. In both, the combination of belief and sacrifice plays a vital role … Or does it? (Lightening flash) Okay, so it does. Belief and sacrifice definitely are vital in both Christianity and in The Skeleton Key, and that’s the spiritual link between the two.

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections