Review: The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

I decided to get a bit more into the October/Halloween spirit lately and, the other day, ended up watching a recent horror film that I really knew nothing about, but that had been recommended by a friend whose taste in film I give a lot of credit to. Directed by Norwegian filmmaker, Andre Ovredal, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is one of those excellent, very self-contained and insular horror films. As the title hints, the film follows a simple plot, which is two coroners conducting an autopsy of an unidentified deceased. The film ended up surprising me (in the best way) in its confident direction, tight script, and genuine terror that continues to build through to its chilling ending. If you are like me and hadn't heard much of the film beforehand, I definitely recommend you go out and watch this one.

Some of the best horror films of the past revolve around the single location concept. The Shining, Evil Dead, Misery, Panic Room and Green Room all utilize this setup to great effect. In a similar way, Autopsy of Jane Doe sets its terror solely within the confines of a funeral home as father and son coroners (Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) put in a long night trying to figure out how this seemingly intact young female died. As mentioned, I really knew nothing about the film and discovering that these two immensely talented actors were the leads in the film was a delight. Due to the microscopic scope of this film, it would surely not have worked without capable and engaging leads and, in this, Cox and Hirsch do not disappoint. Similarly, Ovredal's direction is impressive as he plays a balancing game between a (seemingly quite accurate) medical procedural and an increasingly nightmarish tale. I do not want to spoil anything, but the breadcrumbs as to what is going on are cleverly laid out through the film leading to an exceptionally satisfying (and horrifying) ending to the film. Additionally, there are some great jump scares (for those who enjoy them) along with bodily terror peppered throughout that will make even the most resolute squirm and become squeamish in their seat. For all horror aficionados, I highly recommend going out to see one of the best horror films of the past few years, The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

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