At the time of release, The Key to All Doors was a richly filmed horror movie with an unbeaten theme. The director did not stint on the beautiful views of the surroundings of New Orleans and the local flavor. The story was unpredictable, and hoodoo was a crooked translation of voodoo. The movie looks good today, the only thing is that the plot has become much easier to predict, because over the years since its release, many similar stories have appeared. This does not diminish the merits of the film.
On a July afternoon, I wanted to stir myself up with a horror movie (as if there were few horrors in life for 2021). A colleague recommended a thriller
"The Key to All Doors"
The plot revolves around a young caring nurse who comes to a mysterious mansion in the swamps. She is caring for an elderly man who has suffered a stroke. The old man’s wife is not happy to see the girl in the house, but soon her attitude changes. However, as well as the opinion of the girl about the situation in the house.
Very smoothly made story transitions, there are no questions during the film, why the character one way or another did. The character of the characters is thought out, perhaps, so it was not a surprise for me when the lawyer was not a kind gentleman. Perhaps the reason lies in the similarity with the movie “Get Out”, which I watched earlier.
The color palette is restrained. In the film, the game with color is almost not noticeable: there is no pressure as the plot tension. The only dark spot is the final scene at night in heavy rain (genre classic).
Operating work turned out to be as natural as possible, without tricks. This allows the wide viewer not to be distracted by the camera maneuvers.
The sound accompaniment perfectly fits into the atmosphere of the whole film - live music trumpeters in the bar and records with country blues work to create a complete picture in the head of the spectators. The final hip-hop song takes us out of the house of hell and brings us back to real life. I wish I had seen this movie in 2005. It’s funny that I even had an image in my head: I’m sitting in the cinema, watching the camera fly high into the air, and people are gradually freeing the hall.
The cast for 2021 is impressive. Blonde Kate Hudson in the title role looks (already) canonical for typical horror films - a light ray in the dark realm of ghosts. At the time of the film she was 26 years old, and behind about 15 serious work. Why this information? To the fact that despite the relatively young age, the girl has enough experience to pull the main role in the thriller.
You may have seen Gina Rowlands in The Memory Diary, and John Hurt needs no introduction at all. Some moviegoers can remember Peter Sarsgaard from the film “Education of the senses”. There are not many characters in the film, and they have clearly defined characteristics. So, throughout the storyline, Caroline acts decisively and selflessly, and the two-faced Vilet imitates a caring wife.
In addition to the usual techniques for increasing suspense, the director also decided to shoot locally: almost all the action takes place in the mansion. Sometimes there are rare trips to the city. This creates a sense of isolation, establishes a framework that is tightly compressed during the development of the plot. And now you are already driving instead of Hudson in a tiny (as well as the chances of success) car and trying to break a giant lock on the fence (or is it the same frame?).
The idea of faith is the theme of the film. I didn’t believe it, so nothing will happen.
It is interesting to watch the main character with every minute spent in the house, convinced of the existence of ghosts, how gradually he goes mad. The idea of the authors that a person should not only take part in the ceremony, but also believe in what is happening with all his heart, adds depth to the film.
So, in addition to watching a good thriller, we have the answer to the main question - what is this key to all doors?
Author's note: the review was written on 08.07.2021.
The film is about wizards, limitless with their magic, adapted territory of the South of the United States. While the viewer mentally runs ' with a jar'), the understanding is trampled that since this is a cult of lawlessness, there is no choice for the masters of this cult themselves. The soul of the master ' hudu' (the master, this is when there is a competent status of magical skill) is a fraction in the ball of someone else's body, and if the body / vessel is not found, then forever in the vicious circle of hell. Roughly.
The very techniques 'hudu', about which all locals, no matter who you ask, inform in this film, are such forms of identifiable handicrafts of the black population: the techniques are simple, folk. And seriously, it's not about simplicity and accessibility, it's about how to get there. Hoodou in f. 'The key to all doors', this is an analogue of the so-called ' village' magic. It's not a good thing. The peculiarity is that village magic ' does not get off '. There is no turning back for the victim.
In the film, visual ' overfeed' the viewer with the material components of hoodu manipulation. True, such cults always use human blood, that is, without which a person can not live. Folk cults always have a strong physiological binding. All substances of the human body, its mummy are used: blood, saliva, hair, pieces of skin, urine, etc.
In 2006, The Key to All Doors was nominated for Best Horror Film, according to the Saturn Awards (USA) and Empire Awards (UK).
So that the rest of the audience had something to compare with, is the fear of the impact of magic ' hudu' here, in the film ' The Key to All Doors' - magic ' voodoo' in its endemic conditions, I will describe my impressions. I present in the review what I know about the case of the African version of Voodoo, without admixtures of American vulgarism:
It was somewhere in the back of the continent, where the skin of the locals is not as black as night, but very dark in color, and the people are quite tall and thin. So, somewhere in the depths of nighttime equatorial darkness and humidity, there is one local small diner/bar. When you enter, you do not immediately navigate in the dark, what is it? To the right of the entrance, on the wooden floor, for some reason lies a very young Negro girl.
She lies without signs of life, as in a coma, spread out on this very floor, slightly turned torso, and slightly bent her legs to the right side, her head is also turned to the side, with the right side of her face to the floor, her eyes are closed, the first thing that is realized is that the girl is very young, and on her neck, on her very dark skin, there is either a bark or a dried area. The girl is all dried up, very thin. She's dressed. Clothing, apparently, a blouse, a brown cloth, and a long skirt, incomprehensible, decaying brown color, lying unevenly on lean legs at the edges, while her legs themselves are tied by her ankles with ropes to some smooth thin gray pole-split, and her hands are turned upward and also somehow fixed. On her dark skin in the darkness you can see dust, and right on the skin crawl some white larvae, or butterflies, or someone. At the same time, people (there were both men and women) walked around the place where the girl lies.
From local verbose, but calm explanations, it was possible to understand that witchcraft was applied to this girl. She's punished.
An encouraging moment in the story: despite the extreme exhaustion, her skin on the body and face is a natural, dark color, usually if the stay in this state lasts long enough, the skin of the face and eyelid fade.
I will not tell you how the situation ended, I will only say that work on the teachings of Voodoo, it is also work with healing power. It is a struggle against the fetid spirits created against the soul and body of man.
This is deliverance from the Devil’s traction & #39;, this is a struggle – those ' nails with which Christ was nailed ' those ' tears that Magdalene shed ' ' crown of thorns and the desert where He sat ' ' The life-giving cross from which He looked ' etc.
I know that mistakes and distortions of words are unacceptable, neither when reading nor when performing rituals. Otherwise, someone who merges with Voodoo can become bad.
Here and see how compared to voodoo - at the lean in 'Key of all doors' it is bad with the sacred weight of what is happening.
I don't believe it, and that won't help. Director Ilen Softley, by the way, relied on ' understanding pictures' and the name 'hudu' for him only a synonym 'voodoo'. What Ilen Softley said in an interview: ' I have long wanted to make a film based on the beliefs and legends of the area in which the film takes place. New Orleans has long been considered the center of American occult teachings. Voodoo magic has been practiced here for centuries. I think this fact still causes horror in ordinary people'
What advice do you have for heroes like Kate Hudson/Caroline in these circumstances? Survive and be saved, perhaps. You don’t have to try to be on an equal footing with those who are really masters, like the couple in this movie – Papa Justice and Mama Cecile. In any magic, including in Voodoo, there are simple, self-safe ways to counter the Enemy.
The film is superbly dense, but its director for ignorance of the theory:
9 out of 10
This is a real mystical thriller, at first you do not understand much and only the ending puts everything in its place, the film is full of mysteries and intricacies, this is subject only to real masters of their craft! 10 out of 10.
Very entertaining filmmaker, if you are a fan of this genre and have not seen this film, I would highly recommend you to watch this masterpiece. Don't thank me. Have a good look.
Overall impression: In my list of scary horror films enough tapes. These include both European cinema and American-made films. I first watched The Key to All Doors 10 years ago (if not more!), then I was very scared, I was shocked by the end of the film and its growing anxiety with the detective component. After reviewing now, little has changed. Cinema still looks with interest, not everywhere, but still frightening, but here plays the factor of re-viewing. Although many years have passed, bright events have been imprinted in memory, and the tape is still curiously fascinating throughout the entire timekeeping. By the way, the film is 104 minutes, well, almost 2 hours, and looks in one breath, as if the moment has passed. During this time, you have time to get acquainted with the heroine, with the secrets of the house, the magic of hoodu, from which a cold runs down the back.
25-year-old Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson) gets a job as a nurse to an elderly disabled Ben Devereaux (John Hurt), the owner of a huge mansion near Louisiana. His wife Violet (Gina Rowlands) gives the girl a universal key to all the doors in the house. One day, a curious Caroline discovers in the attic a secret room with a lot of mystical objects. The owner claims that the items belong to the former owners who were engaged in black magic. Soon Caroline becomes a witness of rather strange and inexplicable events and decides at all costs to unravel the secret of the mysterious room.
What we have: a mysterious house, strange residents of the mansion, a curious investigation and an unusual final twist that is really frightening. Juggling genres, the director did not forget about the dialogue, the cherry on the cake is the fearless heroine of Hudson – Caroline. Dealing with her role as an altruist, Hudson gives the impression of a brave girl, but what is the price of her steadfastness? There are doors that should not be opened, no matter how corny it may sound. Throughout the film, you experience a variety of emotions for the heroine from fear and excitement, to “well, I told you!”
Definitely got to watch! The film will be able to surprise with an original plot, please with an atmosphere of mysticism, high-quality acting, memorable musical accompaniment. Definitely delaying, and in the end everything will fall into place so that you want to review again. Why not? The attention to detail is different. I recommend it!
Thrillers have always caught my attention, especially thrillers with unexpected and unpredictable endings. I don’t really like fantastic thrillers, as I’m more impressed with more realistic films, but it was worth watching the film.
' The Key to All Doors' director Ian Softley is primarily attracted by his mystical themes, which are related to religious rites and cults, the center of which is North African religious witchcraft Huddu, or in other words, black magic. The film is presented to us as a detective mystical thriller, not a new direction in the horror genre, but the idea of the film is intriguing (given the year the film was released in 2005).
A young girl named Caroline (played by Kate Hudson) gets a job as a nurse to an elderly man (played by John Hurt), but she could not even suspect what might be happening in this house and what secrets this house hides. Caroline received a special key to all the doors, after that she discovered magical objects for ritual and cult and set herself the goal to find out everything that was happening, also a paralyzed man tried to give her at least any clues and help.
The film withstands its mysterious atmosphere, the actors also perform their roles at the level, especially the young actress Kate Hudson, who had not starred in serious films until then, but what surprised the film most was the ending of the film, the director still managed to keep the intrigue in the film.
'The Key to All Doors' - atmospheric intriguing mystical thriller, which is tied to a detective note.
It has always been human to dream of something bigger, incredible and inspiring. This is probably because most of us are vulnerable and unable to fight back against something that has far more power than is nearly impossible to match. And in order to be able to become much better, smarter, stronger, and even younger, magic cults have been recreated in many cultures of the world, the purpose of which was to appeal to the help of supernatural abilities that come with demons and spirits, which should be appeased in a special way. Of course, in our civilized age, few people actually believe in the power of ancient rituals, but far from megacities, where not everyone has smartphones, and television is still a curiosity, belief in the otherworldly has a special influence on the mind of the intoxicated masses. On many islands like Tahiti and Haiti, voodoo magic flourishes, with which imaginary wizards like to attract careless tourists who are ready to pay a very large amount of money for miracles. There are real voodoo rituals that do not fall into the field of view of the camera and cause genuine anxiety among casual witnesses of the sacrament. However, there are those beliefs that are considered nothing more than a legend, but they are still worth listening to. Among them, it is especially worth highlighting the hood, which, despite the similarity of the names, has almost no relation to voodoo. According to the findings of the researchers, hoodu can not be fully called a cult, because in different parts of the world there is almost no evidence of it, which suggests that this is more a legend than completely formed the direction of magical rituals. And yet Hoodu was noted in the cultural reports of some North African peoples, from which it is not so easy to miss the attention of those who are not averse to testing their nerves for strength. Believing in the possibility of transmigration of souls, some dark sorcerers seriously expected to extend their lives almost indefinitely, and the creators of the film “The Key to All Doors” considered that for the magical basis of their works, hoodu rituals would be the best way out of the possible.
So, the plot of the film takes us to Louisiana, which differs from the rest of the states of America with its bright cultural color, which has a special African hue. And if in large cities, magic is perceived as nothing more than a fairy tale, in small villages, virtually every house has its own altar with figures and amulets that protect the monastery from all evil spirits. She had no phobias about voodoo, hoodoo, or other rituals by Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson), a young nurse who found her purpose in caring for terminally ill patients in a local hospice. Of course, this work is not easy for a young girl, and nevertheless she tries to do everything necessary to ensure that patients receive decent care before leaving for eternity. But despite the fact that Caroline devotes a lot of time to work, nothing human is alien to her and she also knows how to enjoy socializing with friends, dancing and going to the bar. So by all accounts, Caroline is actually the perfect candidate to be entrusted with a special, responsible job that not everyone can take on. And having received an invitation from the elderly couple Devereaux, Caroline goes out of town to learn all the nuances of the upcoming task, promising good earnings. According to the order, the heroine will take care of an elderly old man (John Hurt), who was recently paralyzed and his wife (Gina Rowlands) needs care. The only problem is that Mrs. Devereaux has a very difficult character and it is extremely difficult to get along with her. Nevertheless, the lawyer of the owners of the house, Luke Marshall (Peter Sarsgaard) persuades Caroline to stay, after which very strange events begin to happen to the girl. Having received the key to all the doors except one, the heroine seriously thinks to find out what is hiding there. But her adventures do not end there at all, because everything suggests that the sinister hoodu is practiced in the local regions, and if you really believe in its charms, then there is a high probability that they will capture the soul of their victim and never let go again.
For the British director Ian Softley, The Key to All Doors was a very unusual project, as he had previously avoided outright mysticism, but his work on the story of Caroline Ellis was interesting. A director never goes through the same topic twice, trying to choose exceptionally interesting films that would be a challenge for his career. So it was with the defiant “Wings of the Dove”, the psychological “Planet Ka-Pex” and finally “The Key to All Doors”. In this story, Softley, at the suggestion of screenwriter Eren Kruger, tried with respect and the artistic appeal necessary for the mass audience to show that a person even now remains incredibly vulnerable if doubt creeps into his soul that his fate belongs to himself. Sneaking deep into Louisiana customs imbued with African beliefs and magic, we, along with the main character, gradually discover the nightmarish essence of most rituals, during which there are absolutely no happy sides. There are always those who follow the path of sacrifice in order to ensure the well-being of their opponent. Of course, everything shown on the screen is an assumption in view of the fact that hoodu remains half a myth, but the creators managed to build a very plausible story, which is easy to project onto other rituals that are carried out in this outback. And there is a high probability that the true horrors of magical customs are unknown to us only because journalists who are banally worried about their own well-being do not wander there.
In The Key to All Doors, Kate Hudson played one of the most memorable roles in her career. As usual, the audience used to see the actress in mostly frivolous like “How to lose a guy in 10 days.” Because of this, some part of the audience frankly doubted whether Hudson could master an unusual image in a mystical horror. However, the actress was able to show a confident and lively game with emotions, experiences and fears that heat up throughout the timekeeping. Most of the time left without support from the outside, and even in the company of a frankly inhospitable hostess Caroline Ellis shows wonders of judgment, conducting a very intriguing investigation in territory where it is not so easy to cope with his inner demons. And because of this, the heroine deserves absolute respect. So Hudson’s efforts were not in vain, giving us a tense hour and a half that will be remembered for a long time.
In conclusion, I want to say that “The Key to All Doors” is an atmospheric, sometimes really frightening and creepy spectacle, which is interesting to follow until the very end. Fans of the genre will definitely have something to cling to.
People do not understand the very essence of sacrifice.
“There is no good in worship without knowledge, and no good in knowledge without right understanding.”
Ali ibn Abu Talib
The film “The Key to All Doors” was watched for a long time, I don’t even remember a year, having recently revised it, I decided to write a review.
The story of how a girl in search of a new job leaves far from home and falls into the wilderness, where the cult of hoodoo and superstitions are relatively new reigns. I can’t remember these movies.
Kate Hudson’s play can be considered convincing, a young attractive girl who, out of altruism and humanism, tries to understand the mysterious story of Ben Devereaux. Curious, trusting, she finds herself involved in a big game. In some situations, curiosity and the desire to help people do not bring good. The rest of the actors coped well with the role, but did not make a special impression.
The events unfold in Louisiana, where the influence of black slaves practicing voodoo and hoodoo is felt. The film lacks horror, bloody rituals, sacrifices. Mysticism comes to the fore, villains are hidden under the mask of virtue. The atmosphere is inflated, but the suspense does not reach the desired level, in my opinion, this is one of the main disadvantages. The heroine alone confronts evil, but this struggle initially had little chance.
The soundtrack of the picture does not cause much delight, but it also does not cause rejection. Just like the background complements the film.
In general, “The Key to All Doors” is a mystical thriller for an amateur, I personally liked it, but slightly pumped up the script.
Let me tell you right away, this movie has nothing to do with the horror genre. I only found out after watching it, and sat down with the thought of my own bravery and courage. My knowledge of horror is limited to watching the trailer for The Hills Have Eyes and a couple of youth scarecrows. There was no fear or tension when watching. The action of the film is very smooth, measured, even prolonged. By the middle of the movie, I decided to see how much more I had left and I was sad. It's boring, except for a few things. Real action is waiting a little behind the middle, so do not rush and turn off, it is better to enjoy, because there is something. Crazy atmospheric film! Each frame is literally saturated with the gloom of the mansion and the events taking place. Stunning scenery and delightful music help to penetrate deeper into the history.
Acting is on top! Kate Hudson, for me personally, is a typical comedy actress, but here she looked very harmonious and convincing, however, like all the actors of this film.
In general, the fewer expectations you have, the more impressed the ending will be. In fact, it is worth watching this movie for her. Powerful, amazing, this is not expected by most viewers. One of the most unpredictable endings of mystical thrillers, in my opinion. Except for a couple of moments that I passed, and then not immediately, but closer to the end.
True, it is because of the denouement of the film for once, but not in a bad way. You will get a sincere pleasure from watching, just when the main intrigue reveals, you will learn everything, you will only have an aftertaste. However, all films with an unexpected ending sin – enjoy the here and now.
8 out of 10
A young nurse does not want to work in a hospital where patients are indifferent. So she moves to the outback, hired as a nurse in the house of a strange woman somewhere in the south to care for her husband, almost devoid of speech and movement. The girl is given a universal key to all the doors, except one in the attic. Naturally, it is she who lures the girl.
Strictly speaking, this moderately intellectual thriller is still a pop and simple paraphrase of two mystical masterpieces - the Heart of an Angel and the Exorcist. The first is related to the plot, slightly reframed and transferred to a modern film context (in the same stream as the Oscar nominee Away). The second is a crisis of faith. This time it is not Christianity, but pure mysticism. Uneven, not terribly scary, sagging in the middle, but amusing, and now rare, with a great ending.
This film by the British director Ian Softley has become a noticeable phenomenon in the genre of mystical thrillers. There are not so many good quality films in a given direction, and therefore this picture was very warmly received by the audience, although film critics did not support their enthusiasm, reviews were ambiguous. In any case, we have a very original story, not a new word in the direction of horror, but certainly a bright representative of horror films.
As a plot basis, the themes of religious cults, African witchcraft, the spiritual world and magical rites were taken. At the center of the story lie beliefs in the North African religious witchcraft of Huddah. This is black magic based on superstition and fear of death. An important detail is the belief in what is happening. By genre, this is a mystical thriller with elements of a detective. I wouldn’t call this movie classic horror. There are not so many habitual screamers here, the director relies on the atmosphere of mystery, mystery and the presence of some otherworldly forces. Suspense is not the highest level, but the degree of tension is present and gradually increases. Strong intrigue sustained until the final, but an experienced viewer is able to guess how this story will end.
The creators managed to recreate the atmosphere of southern Gothic, with its inherent inclusion of elements of folklore, increased interest in religion, as well as strong social motives. The spirit of the American heartland is conveyed with great confidence. This was especially emphasized by the decorations. A huge old house with a lot of rooms, creaky boards and some mystery lurking inside the dilapidated corridors. It is fascinating and makes you feel uncomfortable. And when we are given to listen to the recording of spells on film, it makes a strong impression.
The picture develops according to the standard scenario, the main character is trying to solve the mystery of the old house, trying on the duties of a detective leading the investigation. The unexpected ending stands out for its non-triviality, and is able to surprise an inexperienced audience. However, the film also has flaws. The tension is persistently uneven, there are sagging moments, and just lack of frightening elements.
The main role is a young actress Kate Hudson. Basically, she is famous for her participation in youth comedies and does not have a strong dramatic talent. She looks confident, but absolutely standard, which is why her heroine does not work very well. Star of the past years Gina Rowlands gives a very confident game and shows high class. But the veteran John Hurt just serving the number.
The key to all doors is a very atmospheric, mysterious and tense mystical thriller. And also a detective with a strong intrigue and an unexpected outcome. He is not able to frighten a sophisticated viewer. Nevertheless, this is a very high-quality film that will appeal to fans of the genre.
7 out of 10
In the world there is an explanation for many phenomena, however, human curiosity is still difficult to give an intelligible characterization. There were good people who put their fingers in the socket (at the age of thirty) only to find out how fashionable their hairstyle would look after this ritual. An almost invincible desire to know everything, a perfectly justified human feeling.
Sometimes inquisitiveness can be a terrible enemy, because some secrets are better kept secret. Locked in the attic of a dilapidated house terrible riddles can not hurt, right? At least until the key that opens all the doors is found. And this kind of plots where the character tries to get to the truth rarely go unnoticed, and why, because the curiosity of the cinematic hero becomes contagious for the viewer. And from the tape of Ian Softley you can get some useful lessons for yourself, on the example of Carolyn - a twenty-five-year-old girl, part-time nurse. One of the lessons is that we do not have to prove ourselves by putting on ourselves a burden heavier than ourselves, we are not ants.
Carolyn works as a nurse in a hospital, she cares for patients over whom the terrible Reaper hangs, it can not be said that she does not like her job, but she craves changes in her own life with every fiber of her soul, realizing how hard it is to endure human death and the attitude of colleagues to the dead. She thinks about it every day, passing the doors of the office. In addition, it is difficult to achieve something without the support of loved ones, Carolyn has not the easiest childhood behind her, which in no way affected her appearance. Internal torments do not give our heroine peace, and the young lady decides to change her life for the better, become happy and independent, then the girl begins to make mistakes, one of which is the notorious curiosity. And only in the middle of the narrative, not in the prologue, mystical forces, magic, ghosts come into play, which dilutes the already interesting detective line, not individual, but very atmospheric. What are the mistakes of the heroine played by Kate Hudson, you can write in several paragraphs.
1) Money is not always worth the distance and effort.
2) Twenty-five is not the most mature age to go into unknown swamps to help the unknown.
(3) Unnecessarily intrusive, on the part of the employer, may not, should be alarming.
(4) Do not believe the sweet words of young strangers. In the “Red Riding Hood” it was hinted at.
(5) Don’t try to prove anything, especially the dead.
(6) And finally, believing in the magic of huddu, you need to run wherever your eyes look (based on the context of the film, begging an addition to the list).
Of course, you can not tickle your nerves, watching a kinder fairy tale with similarly catchy moralizing, the atmosphere in the film “The Key to All Doors” immerses in the right tension, script ideas are quite original, although in fact it is skillfully used clichés from thematic films. Kate Hudson coped well with her role, the other actors also reacted with due trepidation to the task of feeling their heroes. The musical accompaniment can be a little upsetting, because there are a lot of such compositions in such films, and it would be possible to come up with something more original, more frightening, this is a certain minus - when the music does not correspond to the atmosphere of the picture. The final screams its uniqueness, but after all, the viewer can draw another development of events, despite curiosity, the person is also resourceful. But it is unlikely to add to the happiness of our "Barbarian".
As a longtime fan of horror movies, she couldn’t get past The Key to All Doors. Unfortunately, I very rarely find a movie that is really exciting and scary. This film coped with the first and did not reach the second, but in general I will call it quite successful.
The plot develops quite canonically - the girl comes to an old house to help care for the elderly and soon finds out that something is unclean here (and it is not only about dirty diapers). Finding out more and more new circumstances, the heroine nevertheless refuses to believe in the mystical background of what is happening, dissuading the viewer from this. However, in the end, everything turns out unexpectedly for everyone.
The intrigue in the film is kept at a level - new facts are neatly poured, like a brick crumb, measuredly and gradually. At first, the audience awakens curiosity at the sight of a mysterious key, in the end it becomes simply creepy at the sounds of the record. And yet, this film as a horror film lacks suspense, savoring horror and uncertainty. This abounds in many incompetent horror stories a la Annabelle, the Amityville Horror, etc., but on the contrary they lack the plot.
Thus, the film came out interesting, memorable, but not too scary.
It is time, Lord
From the dry dust
Out of these chains
From the Devil's house
Intrigued by the vicissitudes of “Wings of the Dove” (1997), the webs of “Hackers” (1995) and the intentions of an alien from “Planet Ka-Pax” (2001), director Ian Softley in 2005 launched into all his serious talent to captivate, giving the viewer “The Key to All Doors”. He opened not only all the locked rooms for the heroine, but also the eyes of the viewer on the bright sense of faith that can save and destroy at the same time.
Full of love and compassion for people and ambition for life, young Caroline Ellis without regret abandons her job in the hospice because of the widespread indifference of people who betray their sick and old loved ones first to the caring hands of medical staff, and then to instant oblivion. Caroline sees her new vocation in the individual work of a nurse for an elderly disabled Ben, who after a stroke can not move and talk. His loving wife Violet can’t cope with her husband, but perfectly manages a huge house where all the doors open with one key. Apart from the one hidden in the attic...
The script from the author of “Rings” (2002, 2005) Eren Kruger and the attributed horror genre inspire fear in advance that from around the corner, at the peak of the chords of the musical accompaniment or behind the shoulder of the main character, a terrible ghost face will suddenly fly out, which will immediately spread in the haze to the next corner. But the traditional plot with an old house, a terrible story of former residents, night awakenings, steps outside the door and a shower at the most inopportune moment does not abound in the expected torn limbs, whipping blood, walking dead or rocked ghosts. There is a mystery around every corner, at the peak of the musical chord, the fear of the heroine and for the heroine, in the mirror a cold shadow of either the living or the dead, and in the soul awe.
“Key” is primarily a psychological tape with the idea of open and closed doors in the human mind, to which director Ian Softley offers his “The Skeleton Key”. And only then a detective, a thriller and a horror film, where the body does not convulsively twitch because of the effect of surprise, but nervously shudders because of the intensity of emotions and sensations. After all, what could be more terrible than the use in the modern world of the kindness of another person and his compassion for his neighbor? What could be worse than a love that leads to violence? What is the instability of faith and ideals? Credibility vs. hypocrisy?
In this dance of open and closed doors, in the literal and figurative sense, the blonde heroine of Kate Hudson bursting with life, like a furry rabbit, cornered by slippery snakes. She is naive, frightened, but does not give up trying to escape. Her youth justifies the adventurousness of her heroine in the knowledge of the unknown and fearlessness in the face of obvious obscurantism. However, throughout the picture more amaze and attract partners of the actress on the site. And this is not about the quality of the game, but about the essence of the images. Friendly and talkative young lawyer performed by Peter Sarsgaard, introverted Violet from Gina Rowlands and silent Ben from John Hurt. They know the whole movie, but they are silent. Or are they silent because they don't know? Constant uncertainty is in the air of the world on screen and acting. Play with one eye, one eye only.
Only after the final denouement, you understand what is what and what nothing has been fixed since the very turn of the key in the last unopened door of the house. But about all this and what remained unsaid, according to the good tradition of all the director's films, you think already on indifferently sliding credits. And let the winner on the first view of this film lose with the next in their genre categories of detective, thriller and horror, because the first time you realize that there is nothing to fear around the corner. The Key to All Doors is a clear favorite in his recognition and enduring memories of him. After all, if all the horrors were like this, then after them people would fear not the dark and the zombie apocalypse, but their faith and prejudices, or, in extreme cases, suspicious old women.
10 out of 10
Recently, I did not come across worthy films, so to put an assessment above the “seven” I had nothing, and I did not want to write reviews, because no film caused emotions that would be enough to make a full opinion.
No film in recent years has caused me so much excitement, raging emotions, as “The Key to All Doors”.
The film tells us about a girl Caroline, who got a job as a nurse to an elderly woman, she is given a key that opens all doors.
Everything.
Except for one.
Actor's game I really liked, I can't complain, sometimes I even forgot that it's just actors who perform their roles, and not real people, I didn't see the playfulness, I didn't see the lack of emotions, all there was enough.
The plot is incredibly interesting, I really like this topic. All this strange magic, belief in something not very familiar to us, it is so interesting to watch, and when it is served so beautifully that you want to savor every moment and not be distracted by anything else, then I am ready to jump to the ceiling with happiness.
The ending is amazing. I very often guess endings in films, but here, alas, failed, maybe because I was too distracted by the film itself, that I had no time to scroll through the theory in my head, but still.
You know, you watch a movie, you watch it. And here's OPA.
You see the ending, which every moment becomes more unexpected, making you sit in a stupor.
In the film there were minuses, delays of some moments, well, and other small errors, but the pluses covered them completely.
It reminds me a little bit of an orphanage.
When I watched it, I remembered the phrase from there:
“You don’t have to see to believe, but you have to believe to see.”
I thought for a long time what to put the film, rushed from one assessment to another, recalled the minuses. And then I decided. Should I give you a tenth?
The key to all doors is advertised as a great horror movie from which you will get goosebumps and after which you will suffer from nightmares. In fact, the film was not as scary as it was described, although very interesting.
A young pacifist and a lover of humanity in one bottle, Caroline, resigns from the hospital and gets a nurse for a sick and paralyzed old man, whose harsh and domineering wife induces, if not fear, then dislike. The landlady hands the key as she speaks from all the doors, but she finds one door she cannot unlock.
The main advantage of the picture is the mixture of magic in the everyday life of an ordinary person who believes in nothing but money. In this case, the girl who has no faith, gradually immersed in the life of her patient, she begins to believe in magic. And those people who surrounded her in an instant turned into strangers, and her world is rapidly changing under the yoke of circumstances.
Actress Kate Hudson, familiar from the film Bride War, played the role of Caroline, a pretty pacifist who too often and a lot shouts about kindness and love for others, her obsessive obsession with sick people scares me a little. Vilet Deverall is the wife of a sick old man Ben, makes a oppressive impression, she is so gloomy, arrogant and not at all polite with people, and in the end she completely scared her appearance. Rick Marshall, a lawyer for an elderly couple, handsome and polite, a guy from a magazine who can help in a difficult situation. Ben-paralyzed old man, a secondary character who remains in the background of talented women.
I will not say that the film is fascinating atmosphere, it lacks scary moments, but it is quite compensated by the terrain and the house, which plays an important role in the film. Gloomy, dark, he seems to suffocate with his surroundings and frightens with his strange, secret rooms.
The verdict, the film “The Key to All Doors”, is a good mystical film, in which the bright confrontation of the two main characters, and local superstitions of southerners are most attracted. I highly recommend it.
Caroline works as a nurse and takes care of sick people. Accustomed to caring for people, she moves to Louisiana with a paralyzed patient, whom doctors give another month. Together with his wife, he owns a large mansion with more than thirty rooms. A new nurse is given a key that opens all the doors in the house. All but one, which is closed and should never be opened. After a series of mystical events, the girl decides to unravel the secret of the house and its strange owners, but for this you will have to open a secret room.
The movie’s motto, directed by Ian Softley, is “Everyone has their skeleton in their closet.” It is the mystery of this skeleton that the main character of the film tries to unravel, the story in which develops and, as in a detective thriller, throws more and more new particles to the viewer, building a plot puzzle called “The Key to All Doors” in pieces. And the most interesting thing is that until the last part of this puzzle is put in place, the whole picture does not add up.
Here this last part of the designer is a wonderful ending, which is difficult to unravel during viewing. But at the same time, the film would not have become so popular with the viewer without a good production and excellent acting parts. That is why the picture, even at the nth viewing, does not lose its stylistic charm, interest and intrigue of the events taking place and, most importantly, impressions from what they saw. For this kind of paintings, considered a one-off spectacle, this is a very important aspect.
Important, but less relevant to this film. That is why for the genre horror film “The Key to All Doors” is a very decent picture in popularity. And, despite its not so much long history, which has gained a certain status among film lovers and firmly entrenched in the genre of horror as a high-quality and strong film. Cinema, which in the presence of all the components of the genre, can not be called terrible, rather tense and interesting, which is more characteristic of thrillers.
Every year an impressive number of different films of the genre of horror films and thrillers come out on wide screens. Directors willingly get carried away in the desire to scare the viewer, catch up on him creepy or just entertain and not many cope with this task at a decent level. The director of this tape Ian Softley this definitely succeeded. Let the film become an incredibly commercial hit and did not take the laurels of a real masterpiece, but certainly looks like one of the brightest examples of the genre.
The director of the picture Ian Softley has long earned the fame of an exemplary director in the thriller genre and the experience accumulated over the years of his work he perfectly portrayed on the screen. Especially from the point of view of the approach to the way and form of revealing the plot on the screen. The big problem with most directors in the genre of thriller and horror films is that they are so much involved in the visual depiction of tin and BU scenes that they completely forget about the atmosphere. The director of this film Ian Softley did just the opposite.
The film throughout the screen action is kept on a continuous atmosphere of tension, mystery, sharpness and suspense, which then contributes to the fact that with great interest to look to the logical end, and later have the desire to review the film again. Although the film is not able to cause wild horror or even fear, but certainly keeps in suspense throughout the film and from some moments even goosebumps run on the skin.
The plot of the picture develops in the best traditions of the genre. Again, the main character finds herself in a new place. New house again. Again, the mystery that she is trying to solve throughout the film and this is the main catalyst for the development of the plot on the screen. The creators of the tape very voluminously conveyed on the screen the color and mental spirit of life in New Orleans, and also perfectly played on the screen the myths and legends inherent in this place regarding black magic, witchcraft and voodooism.
Obviously realizing that Kate Hudson is not a strong dramatic actress, the creators of the film very competently painted her character within the framework of the plot. Hence it is not surprising, so organically and confidently looks Hudson in his image. Much more interesting is the veteran of Hollywood Gina Rowlands, who perfectly kept the mysterious nature of her heroine throughout the film. He did his job well and Peter Sarsgaard. Unless, such a mastadont as John Hurt was not given the opportunity to fully reveal himself as an actor on the screen. As one thing becomes clear from the actor’s other work, he deserves more.
9 out of 10
The key to all the doors is certainly one of the best examples of an action thriller and a famously twisted detective canvas on the screen. A very tense, intriguing, mysterious and quite spectacular film, which you watch with great interest and experience no less even when watching it again.
In terms of genre, it's just great. Not to mention that I am a big fan of horror movies. But still, it is worth noting that this, in my opinion, more mystic (and very high-quality, in my opinion) and psychological thriller. I enjoy mysticism, but I am not a believer. Let’s say I’m just close to the mystical atmosphere, and, in this picture, it is just amazing. The hopeless swamps of Louisiana, fierce thunderstorms and, of course, this ancient, tormented by history, craggy, huge house, which, for a better atmosphere, was not enough only hanging Louisiana moss from its roof. Also, I think, it is worth noting the quality of camera work, music and, of course, the acting is good.
As for the plot part, I will say that it is good, although not new, as it seems to me, but executed very well. And the genre of thriller in this case is psychological in nature, and I really like this genre of cinema. The plot develops throughout the picture, pumping after itself, and becomes not-that-that-frightening, but, simply speaking, aspirational. And after that story broke even to some undislocated horror. And that record. Well, that's self-hypnosis. I'm probably just impressionable. But that’s why we love this genre of films, because they leave behind a weak emotional train, which helps to distract from any aspects of our reality.
Separately, I want to note the slogan of the film, I really liked it, with meaning.
In general, I shared my emotions after watching, hopefully without spoilers.
9 out of 10
So I still expected a different ending, but, repeating, in terms of genre – just fine.
The film was viewed completely by chance, from the moment Caroline (K. Hudson) announced to her friend about her decision to ride into the swamps and become a personal nurse. At the sight of Hudson, the film was initially received by a youth comedy, but after a couple of minutes doubts began to appear about this. In general, thanks to these crept doubts, the TV remote did not receive another click in itself.
The intrigue in the story is certainly present. It becomes clear that the heroine is waiting for something secret and terrible. And the viewer will see this in principle.
Despite the many shortcomings (many!), the film itself in the end leaves a positive opinion. Good acting of actors (within the framework of the script), high-quality pictures, and ritual themes do their job - the film you want to watch. But if there were fewer unfinished moments, this movie would have turned out better.
The first thing that catches the eye is the skill and preparation of the heroine. I didn’t watch the movie from the beginning, but I don’t think the director explained right after the opening credits that Nurse Caroline is a hereditary detective. She without the slightest fear and any forecasts (staffless curiosity in someone else’s house, aha, it’s so normal) snoops around the attic and closed rooms, takes things out of there, arranges investigations, asks straightforward questions to the hostess.
The understatement of heroes. Violet, Luke and Mr. Devereaux are certainly not pawns, it is clear that they will participate in the denouement of the story with the house, but still seem unfinished, faded. You think it’s just about the house, but...
But the house itself does not cause enough horror. There is his backstory, creepy, but he does not even scare the heroine – a lonely white woman.
The lack of a full line of detectives. Caroline seems to sniff out something, learns new facts about witchcraft, begins to believe in what used to be nonsense. However, these are only flowers in the background of what could be. For example, there was no place and time for the heroine to be interested in the fact that the previous owners of the house - brother and sister - lived all their lives only together.
The lack of tentacles of the horror genre. Perhaps there is no such thing as horror here. There wasn’t a really scary moment in the whole movie, but there was tension, yes. Mysticism would be better here.
Gina Rowlands (Violet) is a very spectacular actress, but she didn't turn around. She was not frightened at all, only questions arose about her husband’s behavior and her attitude to the house. Kate Hudson showed the best that she could show. In general, the actress has no complaints, all previously seen her work I like. But here her character often looked stupid. Let’s just say that if the villains wanted to take her life immediately, they would have no difficulty.
I liked the idea of the movie. Sustained, not superficial and holding the bar almost to the very end. The scenes of the plot denouement capture the best, in my opinion, scene performed by Hudson, when her character in fear and despair struggles with her faith.
The film “The Key to All Doors” as a whole is something that we have seen many times before, cut into something forty hours long, completely unremarkable, but, nevertheless, pleasant for single viewing.
With the characters, it is worth noting, everything is fine here - the study is not bad, and the cast is selected acceptable, but this does not cancel the absurd actions of these very characters. All in order. Caroline is a young girl with a tragic past, kind-hearted, eager to help everyone and everything and deliberately curious. Having been in someone else’s house for a couple of days, she walks in her own way around all the rooms, looking into each crack and digging into other people’s things, because she now has a ubiquitous key. In addition, the main character is a boy-baba: here she changes sheets, and then poisons sugar and enters into a fight with warlocks for the old man. Altruism is everything. Luke was suspicious from the very beginning, that’s how I knew that good will not end (thanks, even though the love line was not crammed), and Grandma with a gun so generally laughed (although her persistence with broken legs is much more). I was pleased with Mr. Devereaux, the whole film was sitting, lying and making faces.
Now for the story. Everything here seems trivial, but, in truth, the end is unexpected, and this, perhaps, saved the whole picture, because it began as in an ordinary indie horror, where a brave researcher comes to an ancient mansion with a terrible secret, looking for trouble in a soft place. I can say that I knew in advance what I was going for (mystery, mysticism, rumbled doors closing, alcoholized organs in the attic, etc.). And, of course, I was expecting more of something frightening (the patchy blind old woman wasn’t impressed), and only got “Fearing Is Believing.” It is a pity that the essence of black magic is so simplified.
Despite the mundaneness and triviality in some ways, I was happy with the film, but it is certainly not worth watching.
6 out of 10
Magic has existed on Earth for a long time. Hooddo (Hooddo, Hooddod) is a North African witchcraft and religious cult based on superstition and fear of death. The word “hudu” in the Hausa language means “to awaken indignation, to cause retribution.” Hoodu is not part of voodoo, although the latter borrows some techniques. Approximate appearance of hoodu - about six thousand years ago!
Hoodu remains virtually unexplored. Many people generally consider evil fiction. There are only a few archaeologists and religious scholars in the world.
Meanwhile, this film was made about little-known magic, and, it should be noted, intrigued and attracted not for fun! In principle, horror films have a certain model and often even a simple plot, yes, in this film too everything developed as in typical horror films, however, the fact that the movie uses facts from reality (meaning the very magic of Hood, not the events) involved. Spinned, wrapped up and by the end of the film already splashed all their versions of the ending are broken, all unexpected and not unpredictable.
I advise you to see who hasn’t watched the movie.
I admit, I'm not a fan of horror movies. Books, video games - that's what I like, and the horror movies in the cinema, the soul somehow did not lie down, so I watched pictures in this genre can be counted on the fingers. That’s why I liked this movie.
The plot, as it seemed to me, is simple, beautiful and nothing remarkable stands out: an old house, black magic, a sexy blonde fighting ghosts. And something tells me that a person with more viewing experience than I will probably find him boring and worn out, and possibly disgusting. But it was the seeming simplicity of the plot that made me not turn it off at the time the word "hudu" was heard. I wondered if the filmmakers could make something interesting out of this clichéd plot. And you know what? They did it.
Caste, however, leaves much to be desired, if not better, then at least more. A comedian in this role looks, at least not familiar. But the perception of the picture as a whole did not stop.
Operator work requires a separate mention. When you watch a movie, you immediately realize that the guy with the camera knows what he gets paid for and tries to earn every cent he gets. The beauty of Louisiana, dilapidated houses, the mysterious props of a black magician - all this looks so harmoniously on the screen, complementing and not overlapping, as it happens in many films, each other.
Bottom line: a sophisticated lover of horror stories, this film can please only with an unexpected denouement, cinematography and the main character. But for people like me, the picture would be a great option for the evening. Or in the morning. It depends on you.
Caring sister Caroline is tired of the indifference with which her colleagues treat dying patients.
She finds herself a new job as a nurse in an old, old house in the swamps on the outskirts of New Orleans. Now she has a new ward-helpless old man who survived a severe stroke.
Everything would be fine, but the longer she is in an old mansion, the more curious, mysterious and scarier she becomes.
The gloomy atmosphere of the house itself and the surrounding environment is in itself a perfect horror story.
And thoughts and experiences and excessive attention to what secrets lurk behind the doors of this house further intensify this effect.
With every shot of the intriguing and frightening film, with every creak of the door, I had to cringe in my chair.
Director Ian Softley knows how to weave a dark web of fear gradually, step by step confidently leading us to a terrible solution, and in the final, in the entourage of an old house, he prepared a real bomb for the viewer.
The cast received roles in this film was selected skillfully.
Especially Gina Rowlands, I noticed her in the movie. Others, her play on the semitones in that picture literally fascinated, so subtly and accurately she played her role.
Her work in "Key..." is no worse, again in the picture a mystery, and her skeletons in the closet. Rarely will you see a film with a storyline as dense, enveloping and engrossing as the New Orleans swamps.
Needless to say, the film consistently keeps you in suspense and looks in one breath.
At the very beginning of the film, I thought that I again came across a medium horror movie with a standard plot. It would seem that everything is as always: a large house on the outskirts with a mysterious room; a suspicious mistress who clearly does not agree on something; a heroine who at all costs did not need to get to the bottom of what is happening.
But the ending was really unpredictable for me. This distinguishes cinema from most horrors, which, even if scary, are very predictable.
The film has a pretty good atmosphere. There are not so many scary and frightening moments, but the movie is interesting to watch.
Acting work is not particularly remembered, I can not single out someone, but worked well. And yet, in this film, the main thing is the idea and the plot.
I recommend watching. The movie isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. My assessment:
In the credits, it was worth thanking Herbert Wells for the denouement.
Horror film to call difficult, scary was never, rather, there were many tense and emotional moments, so it is more mystical thriller. I like the fact that at first it is not clear who to be afraid of, then it is not clear who to worry about, and it is completely unclear what is going to be done with a certain poor fellow. Against the background of too late cardboard films of this genre, the characters 'Key ...' stand out by the available motives and characters sufficiently worked out for such a plot. Everyone’s actions are clear and accepted almost without question. Well, almost. For example, Caroline knows that you can't climb in the attic, but she still climbs. Well, you can understand curiosity.
The picture is very pleasant - shot qualitatively, melancholic gloomy landscapes add juiciness to the overall impression. Yes, and the actors play well - it is pleasant to watch Hudson in this role, and also very imbued with Ben - a pleasant, once beautiful face and very compassionate facial expressions, the idea of what illness and fear can do to a person, add to the film a pressing atmosphere.
Most reviews praise the film for the finale, which the film scores several points at once. However, if you read on Wikipedia about the magic of hoodoo, a few lines describing the essence of North African beliefs, not only spoiler the end, but also in a nutshell hint at the whole plot of the film. It’s just as amazing that this stunning ending is so reminiscent of H.G. Wells’ story #39; The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham' that I won’t believe for a second that the writers haven’t read it, even though they have contributed a lot of their own. But perhaps this is a good example of how to draw inspiration - after all, we ended up with an unorthodox ending, and at the same time a rather dynamic story leading to it.
I will not revisit the film holds the question ' and what next' and when the answer to it is, there is nothing to review. I have no regrets about watching.
I was attracted to three things in this film – a dark poster, a desire to see how Kate Hudson would cope with such a genre, and the name of the director, because Planet Ka-Pax is one of my favorite films. “The key to all doors” I liked, and below I will explain in more detail why.
First, Caroline's philosophy. She is a nurse who really burns for her patients, and, not bearing the indifference of the system, decides to leave it and try herself as a private caregiver. And it is her ability to empathize and a sincere desire to help a person that draws her into strange mystical events. I’m a nurse myself, so I couldn’t help but feel the love for the main character.
Second, the idea of the film. Definitely not a meaningless movie. The plot pleased with unpredictability, twisting and duality. When, at the end of the event, everything is turned upside down, and everything is not at all what the whole film seemed, it is surprising in the best sense of the word. Of course, the second time will not be such a shocking effect, but this film was not designed for a great masterpiece that people will review.
Third, thin. Many people mistakenly believe that this is a distorted pronunciation of the word voodoo, while others think that this is one of the directions of voodoo. It's not really that way. Hudu is a little-studied, completely independent religion, which is so unexplored that some scientists believe that there is no hoodoo at all, it is fiction. The theme of voodoo has been played many times in films of different genres, and this film is the first in my memory, where instead of a romantic and stylish, but already pop religion, North African witchcraft was taken as the basis of the plot.
Fourth, Louisiana. Southern state, New Orleans, famous swamps and diversity of ethnic groups. This region is very interesting, and the fact that it is the scene adds to the film a completely individual atmosphere.
Fifth, Kate Hudson. For me, she was always a comedy actress, and I had no idea what to expect from her in this genre. But she showed herself, if not magnificent, then quite tolerable, she would turn around in dramas, or she stayed in comedies.
Very nice movie that is definitely worth watching.
7 out of 10