The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Original ideas are few and far between in horror films.  I'm pretty much okay with that as I'm usually interested in seeing if someone can come up with something new with the ingredients that are already there.  A good example would be a pizza.  Any mixture of the usual is great as long as no one throws pineapple on it. 

Although some elements in The Autopsy of Jane Doe are familiar this is a pretty unique film.  It's low budget, which means as usual we're in a small, enclosed set with only a few people.  In this case one of those people is dead the entire time.  Well, sort of. 

Sheriff Burke (Michael McElhatton) is investigating an apparent murder/suicide.  However, something unexpected is found: the nude body of a young girl (Olwen Catherine Kelly) buried in the couple's basement.  Since the victims don't seem the type to murder someone and bury them in their home the question of how she got there and how she died needs to be figured out.  For that, the body is taken to a funeral home run by Tommy (Brian Cox) and his son Austin (Emile Hersch).  

While doing the autopsy they discover the body has suffered multiple types of trauma, from fractured limbs to burning.   The mystery is that there is no sign of such on the outside.  It also appears that a number of items with strange symbols have been forced down her throat as if she was killed in some sort of ritual.  While trying to puzzle out what happened a torrential storm traps the two inside, the phones are cut off and soon the main electricity goes out.  Even worse, it seems like some of the other customers have decided to go for a stroll.  Amidst all this Tommy and Austin do what they can to figure out the mystery and survive the night. 

I expected this to be something completely different.  I wasn't even expecting a horror film.  For some reason I was thinking that this was going to be a movie told in flashback showing what happened to her as the examiners figure everything out and the police try to find those responsible.  I was pretty much expecting a suspense film of that nature and writing it out sounds like a movie I would definitely want to see.  However, I'm not disappointed in what I got. 

The Autopsy of Jane Doe was the first English langue film from director André Øvredal and was inspired by The Conjuring.  It definitely has the same feel as a lot of the movies from that universe.  It unfortunately also has some of the same reliance on jump scares, although most of the tension just comes from trying to figure out what is going on and what is real or not.  This was also the first time the director did a horror film, so he was pretty much learning how to do it.  The script was one he picked out due to it being quite a different concept. 

There is some great chemistry between Brian Cox and Emile Hersch, and Olwen Catherine Kelly has to be lauded for remaining still the entire film, as it was her and not a dummy for most of the scenes that didn't involve actual dissection.  Also, even though this genre may have been new to Øvredal, he knows how to ramp up the tension.  

That is, until the last third of the movie.  It doesn't fall apart, and the reveal of who and what Jane Doe is works well and gives a good explanation for the events.  It is something that would be tempting to flesh out in a sequel.  I'm kind of surprised they haven't, but also kind of grateful, because after the reveal it turns into pretty much a normal, rote survival horror film that doesn't live up to what came before.  Still, it is better than most of what is out there, even if it does lose track at the end. 

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Time: 86 minutes

Starring: Brian Cox, Emile Hersch, Olwen Catherine Kelly

Director: André Øvredal