The Autopsy of Jane Doe: An Unexpected Treat

Starring:  Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox

Directed by: André Øvredal

I love horror movies. The good, the bad and the even worse. Because of this, I can admit that this point in the history of the genre it is hard to come up with something unique, and while Autopsy does have some familiar themes, it is presented in way that feels and looks fresh.

Here is the story. It’s just another day at the morgue when an unidentified body rolls in. Father/son mortician team Austin (Emile Hirsch) and Tony (Brian Cox) are no strangers to bizarre subjects over the years, and no matter how misleading the clues presented proved to be, they always dug in, split the rib cage, and cracked the case. However, on this day, the two men find that not only are they unable to find a cause of death for their latest Jane Doe, but they also can’t find any substantial proof that their little dead girl should even be deceased. And as soon as they start their investigation some strange things begin to happen.

The entire film is told over the course of one evening, an approach that can often lead to lost opportunities and boredom, however, the long overdue tag team of Cox and Hirsch, along with excellent direction from Andre Overdal (Trollhunter), created a film that keeps you locked in. I also found myself progressively lured deeper into the story as the twists are exhumed and brought to light. The tone of the film does a wonderful job of switching from creepy and unsettling moments to light-hearted (albeit demented) chuckles with ease, giving the viewers a solid idea of the type of humor that might develop as a defense mechanism for the grisly career of working with dead people.

I think that Autopsy would be a great film just based on everything I mentioned above, but there is an emotional core underneath it all that helps create and even more solid story. The father and son are still grieving over the death of their wife/mother. This adds a layer to the story that draws the viewer closer to these two as they try to discover what happened to Jane Doe and provide the women with some kind of justice. Maybe solving the mystery of Jane Doe’s cause of death will somehow ease their own suffering.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a wonderful horror film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It has a simple story skillfully executed. A lot of folks claim that horror is dead, Autopsy proves it is not. You just need to have passionate and talented people involved in the project. A must see.