The Skeleton Key

The Skeleton Key is a 2005 American supernatural horrorthriller film starring Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard, and Joy Bryant. The film centers on a young hospice nurse who acquires a job at a Terrebonne Parish plantation home, and becomes entangled in a supernatural mystery involving the house, its former inhabitants, and the hoodoo rituals and spells that took place there. It was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2005, and in the U.S. on August 12, 2005.

Caroline, using a skeleton key that Violet gave her, makes her way to the attic where Ben had his stroke and finds a secret room. She discovers dolls, a book of spells, potion jars, and various other magical paraphernalia. Violet reveals to Caroline that the room belonged to two house servants who were employed there 90 years prior. The couple, Mama Cecile Jeryl Prescott and Papa Justify Ron McCall were renowned practitionersdisambiguation needed of Hoodoo and were lynched for practicing spells with children. Violet also tells Caroline that they do not keep mirrors in the house because they see the reflection of the servants in them.Caroline then believes that since Ben believes Hoodoo caused his stroke, she can use Hoodoo, or more specifically Bens believe in it to reverse the effects. Taking advice from her friend Jill Joy Bryant, she goes to a local laundromat, known to have a hidden Hoodoo shop, to acquire a defense for Ben. A practitioner teaches her a ritual with items to use to cleanse Bens illness when Caroline practices the ritual, Ben regains some ability to talk and begs Caroline to get him away from Violet. ........

Source: Wikipedia