Skeletons in the Closet

I actually heard about this movie awhile back when it was about to be released, and I forgot to follow up on it. I remember taking an interest in it because of the cast. Well, my interest is no longer; I'll pass on this one. It seems as if this was so bad that they felt it was better to let the movie itself sit in the closet.

What is funny is that there are a bunch of low ratings on here, and then you have the one 10/10 rating that sticks out like a sore thumb. It's not hard to figure out that the person is connected to this production in some way; perhaps it's the director who used words like stellar performances, masterfully crafted, chilling horror, and well-layered story. This one really made me laugh-"a spine-chilling cinematic experience."😆 And then it comes in at a 3.0/10 rating. Unbelievable.

Great actors. Horrible director and script. Sallie Kirkland another pro, is so smooth. Horrible script! Poor Terrence Howard brings authenticity to this awful project. I can never get enough Cuba Gooding,jr so at least there is that.

Listen, if you have accomplished actors like this, take advantage! These 3 actors could have elevated the movie with just a little more work on the script. Finally, we have an awesome Udo Kerr. He's like the cherry on top. This could have been at least mediocre. Nope. What a waste of incredible talent.

SHUDDER: Try again. This time don't green light it until you're given a decent treatment.

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!!

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.