Set largely in the dark atmospheric backwoods just outside of New Orleans, "The Skeleton Key" stars Hudson as Caroline, a live-in nurse hired to care for an elderly woman's (Rowlands) ailing husband (Hurt) in their home ... a foreboding and decrepit Gothic mansion in the Louisiana delta. Intrigued by the enigmatic couple, their mysterious and secretive ways and their rambling house, Caroline beings to explore the old mansion. Armed with a skeleton key that unlocks every door, she discovers a hidden attic room that holds a deadly and terrifying secret. Peter Sarsgaard portrays Luke, the local attorney working on the couple's estate, and Joy Bryant plays Jill, Caroline's best friend.
Joining Softley behind-the-camera of "The Skeleton Key" are director of photography Dan Mindel ("Spy Game"), editor Joe Hutshing ("Something's Gotta Give"), production designer John Beard (the upcoming "Thunderbirds") and costume designer Louise Frogley ("Man on Fire"). The film is executive-produced by Clayton Townsend ("Bad Company").
Kate Hudson's performance in Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous" earned her an Academy Award(R) nomination as Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA nomination. She is currently starring in Garry Marshall's "Raising Helen," and most recently starred in the blockbuster hit "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," with Matthew McConaughey. Hudson's other film credits include "Alex and Emma," for director Rob Reiner opposite Luke Wilson, and Merchant-Ivory's contemporary comedy, "Le Divorce," with such international co-stars as Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, Sam Waterston, Leslie Caron and Stephen Fry. Hudson made her studio film debut in "200 Cigarettes" with Ben Affleck, Courtney Love and Christina Ricci. Next, she co-starred in the films "Desert Blue" and "Gossip." She portrayed Richard Gere's daughter in "Dr. T & the Women," directed by Robert Altman, and was next seen in "About Adam," co-starring Stuart Townsend and Frances O'Connor. Kate recently appeared in the period epic "The Four Feathers," opposite Heath Ledger and Wes Bentley for director Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth.").
Peter Sarsgaard received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - as well as the Best Supporting Actor Award from the Boston Society of Film Critics, the National Society of Film Critics, the Toronto Film Critics Association and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle - as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his work in the film "Shattered Glass." The talented actor most recently completed "The Dying Gaul" for writer/director Craig Lucas, starring opposite Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott. Prior to that, he filmed "Kinsey," opposite Laura Linney and Liam Neeson. He will next be seen on the big screen in the comedy "Garden State," for writer/director Zach Braff. Sarsgaard also starred opposite John Leguizamo in the sleeper hit "Empire," co-starred opposite Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson in the submarine thriller "K-19: The Widowmaker," directed by Kathryn Bigelow; and co-starred in "The Salton Sea," opposite Val Kilmer. The actor also starred opposite Rupert Everett and Kathy Bates in the black comedy, "Unconditional Love," directed by P.J. Hogan.
Director/producer Iain Softley's film credits include Universal's "K-PAX," starring Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges. The director's unique ability to bring the written word to life was demonstrated in 1997 with the screen adaptation of novelist Henry James' "The Wings of the Dove," starring Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache and Alison Elliott, the film earned four Academy Award(R) nominations, garnering Bonham Carter Best Actress Awards from the National Board of Review, the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Toronto Film Critics Association and the London Film Critics Circle. Softley made a memorable feature debut in 1993, writing and directing "Backbeat," a pre-history of the Beatles, starring Ian Hart, Stephen Dorff and Sheryl Lee. This was followed in 1995 by "Hackers," a romantic thriller starring Johnny Lee Miller, Fisher Stevens, Lorraine Bracco and, in their first major film roles, Angelina Jolie and Matthew Lillard.
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