影评--万能钥匙(The skelton key)英文版.doc

The Skeleton KeyI watched the movie with my classmates and weve all been so shocked by its dramatic ending and creepy scenes that some girls include me couldnt help to scream out, even one of our boy students has kept saying ”calm down, calm down”. But how the world that can we calm down? Even when the second time I watch it the creepy feeling still flows in my heart.When I first heard of the name of this film, The Skeleton Key, I was decidedly unimpressed. Many people had praised it, Id read a lot of positive reviews and the general consensus was that it was a good, creepy film. I disagreed. Now I am happy to say that my opinion has changed and I agree with those who praised the movie back when it was first released. Im not always the best at understanding subtleties in film story lines, but, apart from a few small plot holes, everything here made sense to me. I would say that posters here who say the plot didnt explain itself just need to watch and listen more carefully. Im delighted to see that some filmmakers can still make a horror film thats intelligent, generally scary, and doesnt rely on gore and brutality.-The story is about a young nurse named Caroline Ellis who decided to take a job outside of New Orleans deep in the bayou. She works for Violet Devereaux as a private nurse to take care of the employees dying “husband”, Ben. It seems like a quite simple job for her, however she gradually feels something weird about the house, especially after she heard some noise in the attic. What lies within the walls of the attic? This creepy supernatural thriller works on many fronts, beginning with the brilliant casting of Gena Rowlands as the enigmatic, fearsome Mrs. Deveraux and the lurid, vivid atmosphere, courtesy of cinematographer Daniel Mindel. It is curiosity or some other thing make her begins to uncover a strange chain of events and incidents after opening a secret room within the attic. In the attic are all kinds of strange things, and strangest of all and old record called The Conjure of Sacrifice. Caroline suspects there is something that she doesnt know within the home. Caroline quickly figures out somethings amiss when the wheelchair-bound Ben tries to kill himself by crawling to a window on the second story in the middle of the night and jumping to the ground. Unfortunately for him, he survives - but what would drive him to such an act? Is Ben trying to tell her something? Shes learned Ben suffered his stroke while in the attic - could whats up there have caused his predicament? Rowlands is fantastic as Violet Deveraux, a woman steeped in tradition and clinging to old values; she even honors the former tenants of the house by displaying their photographs. But even so, Violet is mysterious and formidable, and tries vainly to keep Caroline in mind. Gena Rowlands has always been a pretty underrated actress, but if she continues to shine in showy roles such as this, perhaps some awards will be tossed her way; she been twice nominated for Oscars, but has not won. Rowlands effortlessly rises above the material, which in some respects is forgettable. She asks her friend Jill who explains that the attic is probably a Hoodoo room, and tells Caroline that Hoodoo is folk magic, and it cant hurt you if you dont believe in it. But if Caroline dares believe in what she has been exposed to, it can ultimately destroy her. Could there be ghosts within the old home? Or could something else even more sinister be going on?Poor Caroline, it was her curiosity that killed her ultimatelyI cant say a whole lot about this movie, but its important to say something about the ending. The ending is so different from what Id expect from a movie like this. Im not talking about the third act, as often happens in thrillers, I mean the final scene. Although the film as a whole is predictable and doesnt quite live up to its potential, the final scenes wrap up the story nicely and will put a grin on your face.The movie firstly met the audience in August in 2005, starts off very slow, then towards the middle picks up pace, then its slow again, then it concludes with a fantastic and unpredictable ending. Im sure anyone would like the movie, and the ending will surely shock him. Because the lots are completely unexpected, when you think you know whats happening, everything is completely reversed. Besides, I searched some information about the writer of this film, who incidentally wrote 2002s hit The Ring ,and I have much respect for him. In general, stories in horror movies are dull and quite similar, especially Chinese movies. The watchable ones seem to fall into two categories: misguided psychological thrillers headlined by a consummate actress or over the top slasher with serious kitsch value. However, The Skeleton Key doesnt fall into any of these categories and it comes across as a breath of fresh air, an old-fashioned throwback to the traditional Gothic mystery thriller. It definitely did what a good thriller needs to do to distinguish itself, starts off very slow, then towards the middle picks up pace, then its slow again, then it concludes with a fantastic and unpredictable ending. Movie about supernatural aspects is quite rare nowadays. The supernatural horror genre has mostly gone out of fashion. Or even if a movie with supernatural overtones comes along, it is quite badly made. But this one is an exception.It has a very creepy tone and atmosphere, with all the imagery of the Spanish moss, ghost, magic etc. Director Softly uses lots of southern imagery to add a certain texture to the movie. Also the record featured in the film, The Conjure of Sacrifice is very creepy, listening to it can give you the chills. Speaking of the atmospheric surroundings, the haunting score, beautiful, spooky photography, and some very good acting, I must say its the most scared thrill movie that Ive ever seen before.-Then lets talk about the magic in the movie, Voodoo. After all its a foreign film for me, strange words and culture is inevitably exist, so I searched on the internet a little bit, and hoodoo is the one boasts the most long history, and attracted me most. Hoodoo is a body of practices of sympathetic magic traditional especially among blacks in the southern United States.In every part of the country, there are tales of the supernatural. Theyre passed down through generations, making sleep difficult for some. Those who believe know better than to mess with things they dont quite understand. Everyone and their mother has heard of hoodoo and knows about its roots in the South. Though not inherently bad, it can be used as such depending on the user. This makes it an effective subject for a Horror film. More interesting is, The film makes the distinction between voodoo and hoodoo. In the film, its explains that voodoo is a religion and hoodoo is just magic. Hoodoo, it turns out, is a real term, something I didnt realize while watching the film. Just throwing out that little factoid to enrich my viewing experience.When I heard of the word ”hoodoo”, it reminds me of the Chinese superstition. I think there is one similarity between the two, at least the precondition, if you believe, it does exist, but if you dont, then it doesnt make any sense at all. Some of my families seem to believe in superstition, but just a little bit, not severely. I still remember that time when I was young I visited my aunt, who lives far from our house. I went there together with two of my cousins, we were all children at that time, of course, my cousin sister is the oldest one among us, though she was only 10 years old. So there is no doubt that when we leave our aunts house to go home, my aunt was very worried about us, what if we meet bad person on our way? We were sitting at the door and getting on our way, our aunt was wondered if she should go with us just in case. Just at that time, a gentle wind blew to us, and a rope on the wall near us dangled with the breeze. As far as I was concerned, everything was quite normal, but not for aunt. What she said really impressed me deeply, even now I can still remember the exact words, “It must your granny, she will bless you and keep you three safe.” That was not the first time that Ive heard of “ghost things” since I was born, my grandpa and some elderly neighbors of mine mentioned words about that a lot. Actually I was not sure if I understand, but I felt it really creepy, does ”it ” or “they” exist? Where will men go after they die? I even made an appointment with my good friend that if one day one of us die, she must go and find the other to tell her everything about life after dying. Now Im not sure if the appointment is still effective, we were young and childish. Now Id rather name superstition a thing that people need to find grief, commemorate a person or an significant event, or pray for a good wish. With the development of science and technology, most of Chinese in modern society dont believe in superstition inside any more, though the rites and traditions about superstition are still lasting. For instance, on new years day people still serve fruitful foods for the gods ( there are more than one god in Chinese superstition, which is different from other religions.). A family with elderly people may burn some “money ” for their died families, open the front door to welcome them to celebrate the new years day. Like what I said, all the traditions are lasting for peoples needs, it doesnt matter if it is true or not, people believe it or not.-The actors in the movie also performed very well. Kate Hudson, excellent as our main character, makes a very strong impression in this film. It is refreshing to see an actress make you care for the character that has so often been portrayed as an offensive stereotype. She played Caroline in the film, a kind, brave but very curious character, which gets her into trouble sometimes. When her previous patient passes away, Caroline is sent for to live in a farmhouse in the bayou, and take care of an old dying man, Ben Devereaux (John Hurt - Owning Mahoney) who is pretty much paralyzed from a stroke he recently had. Caroline lives in the house with Ben and his typical old Southern housewife, Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands - Hysterical Blindness). Everything seems to be going fine until some freaky stuff starts to happen that isnt easily explained. Violet later tells Caroline the house is haunted with the spirits of slave voodoo enthusiasts. And so starts the creepy tale that is the Skeleton Key with great acting. Sometimes I rather hate her courage because I hate to see creepy things or scenes that she found, but at the same time I would like to follow her, follow the lot and see what crazy thing would happen next, with scare and expectations. I liked the way her thought processes appeared logical. I felt like she was doing what Id have done in her circumstances. Ive never been to the Southern USA, but the sets and locations felt very atmospheric.Caroline cares too much and wants to do more to help people in their dying days with one on one care. Thats how she ends up at the Deveraux residence, looking after stroke victim Ben Deveraux while trying not to step on the toes of his wife, Violet (Gena Rowlands). The only other person that Caroline really knows in the immediate area is the Devereauxs lawyer, Luke Marshall, and he is the one she has to turn too when things are brought to her attention that point to events a little bit more worrying than Ben simply having been laid low with a stroke. Theres something creepy and strange happening in the house but Caroline should be okay because, as her friend points out to her, it can only hurt you if you believe in it. But how much can one person see before they DO start believing?Gena Rowlands was perfect for the shadowy yet friendly old woman. She is a strange character and hooks up the audience from the very beginning. Her character played as a lazy old fox, drawling and placid one moment but always with a sharp pair of eyes watching everything thats going on. There is no really an archetype for what Rowlands brings to life. A few might find the previous statement questionable, but if you look closely to the development of her character, it is almost an original.John Hurt is genius, too. Speaking hardly one word throughout the whole movie, yet giving a vivid performance by body movements and facial expressions, easily showing fear and helplessness in his eyes as he alone knows his internal pain. providing a believable show of strength and bewilderment along with her eye-pleasing attractiveness. I was wondering how many actors can do that?Ive almost missed the