Skeletons in the Closet

I recently viewed Skeletons in the Closet (2024) on Shudder. The plot revolves around a family facing adversity, with a terminally ill daughter and a father who loses his job, making it challenging to cover medical expenses. The mother turns to a spirit from her past for help, but at what cost? Directed by Asif Akbar (Clown Motel), the film features Terrence Howard (Crash), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Udo Kier (Suspiria), Clifton Powell (Ray), and Michelle Wang (Ruthless). Regrettably, this movie is a disaster. Despite a promising setup and realistic circumstances, the execution falls short. There are a couple of cool costumes, such as the scarecrow and voodoo skull guy, but even with a stellar cast, the acting consistently feels inauthentic, and the dialogue is inconsistent. The reactions to certain situations fail to evoke the intended impact, and Udo Kier's character and scenes could have been much better. The voodoo/seance subplot also misses the mark. In conclusion, Skeletons in the Closet had potential in its setup but suffers from poor execution. There's little to appreciate here, making it unworthy of your time. I would give it a 2/10 and suggest skipping it.

This movie is pretty damn awful. Wow. Surprised to see such good actors Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr, Clifton Powell in such a slow and boring film. No thrills or chills to be found here. Bland and all over the place. Still trying to make sense of the scarecrow. The whole mobster piece is unnecessary as well. I wish I could get the time back that I spent watching this movie. I decided to see it through to the end, but that was an unsatisfying ending. Nothing and I mean nothing stands out about this film. I don't recommend watching it a total waste of time. I guess the actors got paychecks!!

I hate to be overwhelmingly negative when it comes to my reviews, but unfortunately I don't have much positive to say about this one... so I'll try to keep it brief. From the moment it started till the final scene I almost consistently wanted to turn it off. The script was poorly written and felt juvenile. The editing and CGI were hokey and surprisingly low quality. This movie was almost the antithesis of atmospheric and there was practically nothing scary throughout. Many scenes were over lit and riddled with stagnant wide shots making it feel very amateurish. Stylistically it was just all wrong. The story was nothing particularly engaging or original either, full of unnecessary and inconsequential aspects such as the scarecrow, the mobsters and many others. The general quality of the picture was crisp and nice which often times was beneficial, yet at other points really detracted from any semblance of atmosphere. I didn't even realize that the acting was really quite good until about halfway through because even the best acting can be hidden under poor angles, clunky editing and a bad script. There were some really solid performances here, particularly from the mom, her father, her husband and the husband's brother. It is obvious that they used the majority of their budget on casting and let other things suffer because of it. I do not like to and very rarely give out 2s. I really wanted to round up to at least 3 with this one for the acting, but unfortunately it was too much of an overwhelmingly negative experience on multiple fronts. 2.5 rounding down to a 2, would not recommend.

I hate to see such wonderful actors performing in a movie that just doesnt cut it, that just doesnt succeed in thrilling or scaring, which is the ultimate aim of a horror movie such as this. The bad: this movie was made with attention for detail. This is isnt some cheaply made B-horror movie. It's not going for the cheap shock effects either, but in the end it just really fails at becoming scary (at all). It's unfortunately more kinda silly looking at moments, which was not the intention whatsoever. The good: it's always nice to see solid actors like Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. Perform on the silver screen. They deserve a better picture than this though. Not terrible, but definetly not thrilling or scary or mesmirising. Too bad for these wonderful actors who are starring in it...

My guess is this was filmed in about 8-10 days at most. Most scenes are 1-2 takes. They probably got Cuba Gooding Jr. For 1 or 2 days. The plot is extremely simple, almost as if a child wrote it. By about the 1 hour mark I really wanted to shut it off, but I endured. To get to the underwhelming finale that any novice film goer would expect. I guess the biggest question is why did Terrence Howard do this project? Why? It couldn't have paid much, maybe just for fun? The plot is partially a flashback story, which the synopsis explains. There's just nothing here sadly. The first 25 minutes is Cuba and Terrence drinking at bars talking, usually in 1 take scenes. Overall it's passable to put on if you're working or cooking or something, but don't dedicate your time to watching this. 4.4/10.

Director Asif Akbar masterfully crafts the chilling horror film "Skeleton in the Closet," delivering an atmospheric and genuinely creepy experience that lingers long after the credits roll. The movie skillfully weaves a tale where the haunting message of a life for a life resonates throughout. Valery M. Ortiz portrays a mother haunted by an evil spirit, determined to go to any lengths to save her daughter, superbly played by Appy Pratt. The seemingly idyllic family, also featuring the excellent performances of Terrence Howard as Mark and Valentina (Valery M. Ortiz), faces the harsh reality of cancer's return in the form of wicked brain cancer after a brief remission. The narrative intensifies as Mark's insurance denies coverage for life-saving chemotherapy, pushing the family into a series of unfortunate events on the same day as Jenny's cancer diagnosis, from a deceased family fish to job loss and mounting debts to the mob. Cubin Gooding Jr. Adds depth as Mark's brother Andres, introducing the audience to a psychic portrayed by Sally Kirkland, leading to the brilliantly portrayed character Luc, played by Udo Kier. The escalating self-destruction and bad decisions, driven by the desperate love for their daughter, unfold in a riveting manner. The film successfully combines a well-layered story with outstanding performances from the talented cast, including veterans Sally and Udo. Asif Akbar's direction is commendable, creating tension and scares throughout the film. In a genre saturated with quick teen slashers, "Skeleton in the Closet" stands out as a refreshing and genuinely frightening horror movie. The carefully lensed scenes, complemented by great sound and lighting, enhance the overall cinematic experience. Terrence Howard, Valery M. Ortiz, Appy Pratt, and Cubin Gooding Jr. Form a cohesive family dynamic, while the supporting cast contributes to the seamless flow of the narrative. Asif's directorial prowess, coupled with the stellar performances, makes "Skeleton in the Closet" a must-watch for horror enthusiasts seeking a well-crafted and spine-chilling cinematic experience.

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