The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) Movie Review - Claustrophobic Supernatural Mystery Horror

We are almost halfway through our K-O-Ween 31 Days of Halloween feature. For day 14 we will be taking a look at André Øvredal’s first proper horror movie The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

The Autopsy of Jane Doe opens with a group of police digging in the basement of a crime scene. A number of people have been killed in the house and the body of a young woman is partially buried in the basement. There is no evidence of forced entry in the house and it looks as though the victims were attempting to escape.

We next head over to the local coroner where father Tommy, played by Brian Cox, and son Austin, played by Emile Hirsch are finishing work. Austin has a date planned with his girlfriend Emma and is about to head out when Emma, played by Ophelia Lovibond, suddenly arrives. On the way out for his date with Emma, Austin spots the local sheriff who is bringing in the body of an unidentified woman, a Jane Doe.

The woman was found in bizarre circumstances and a cause of death needs to be determined. Intrigued, Austin tells Emma to go on without him. He wants to assist his father with the task of learning what happened to this bizarre woman. Little does Austin realise that him and his dad are in for a night they could never have imagined.

An Atmospheric and Claustrophobic Horror

The Autopsy of Jane Doe is an excellent first attempt at horror for André Øvredal. For much of its runtime it is an extremely atmospheric movie that will have you on the edge of your seat. The film opens slowly and is in no real rush to get anywhere. There is an attempt at a jump scare within the first 10 minutes but this is more to set the mood.

Almost the entire movie takes place at the autopsy table. A few scenes venture into other parts of the building but they are few and far between. Both Austin and Tommy are experienced coroners and not intimidated by the environment that they are in. They should have no reason to be scared so the movie has to work hard to give them a reason to be. The plot is left to bake and is not at all forced; at least for the first two thirds of the movie, anyway.

The first half The Autopsy of Jane Doe feels a lot like a psychological horror. The story is the most important thing and everything else takes a back seat. Scaring the viewer is secondary to creating a tense atmosphere and enveloping the person watching in the environment of the coroner’s building. It’s clear we are being set up to have our senses rattled but it develops very slowly. The further along the autopsy gets, the more bizarre the happenings. 

As strange things begin to happen, you really feel how claustrophobic of a venue the coroner’s building is. It is maybe not as small as you may think. But the building having only a single lift to reach the exit adds a lot to the claustrophobic atmosphere and tension. It is apparent that the director wants the viewer to feel trapped along with Tommy and Austin themselves. It is incredibly tense and admirably effective horror scene setting.

Nudity and Body Horror

Naturally, there is an element of body horror as one might expect when watching a movie about an autopsy. The autopsy is presented in graphic detail and the Jane Doe is actually played by a real person – Olwen Kelly. Expect full frontal female nudity for the entirety of the movie. There is also graphic autopsy procedures such as cracking ribs and removing organs. If either of those things don’t appeal to you then you may want to give this a miss. The decision to use an actual person was, in my opinion, an inspired one. It lends the movie a feeling of authenticity rather than the hokeyness that would have come along with a prop.

For the majority of the movie we see Olwen Kelly lying on the slab. For actual autopsy shots prosthetics are used. The prosthetics are, for the most part, pretty great. The body parts look very realistic and somebody obviously had a hell of a time in the foley studio. There are a couple of scenes that do look a little strange. These scenes are usually shot from further away, though. The close up shots are very effective body horror featuring the removal of damaged lungs, a scarred heart, and other vital organs. It is really well done and is sure to make a few of the more squeamish viewers feel a little nauseous.

There are a couple of scenes featuring some severe injury detail that are particularly nasty. The practical effects are fantastic throughout and the effects department should be commended for their efforts. There isn’t anything that stands out as being particularly bad but there is a lot that is extremely good.

Fantastic Acting and Excellent Cinematography

The Autopsy of Jane Doe features an experienced cast who do a fantastic job. Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch have a believable dynamic as father and son. They are both likeable and will make you laugh on a few occasions. You feel for them with what they have to go through and Emile Hirsch does a decent job of projecting emotion.

It would be impossible not to mention Olwen Kelly as the Jane Doe. Okay, she just lies on a table for the entire runtime. To do that, however, completely naked in a room full of production crew is a task in and of itself. It’s a brave performance. It is worth pointing out that I never noticed her breathing or twitching throughout. Apparently she was hired due to her ability to control her breathing and movement. This is a skill she developed through yoga. I am sure her good looks played into it at least somewhat but she is more than up to the task.

Cinematography is great. There are some creative shots using mirrors and cracks in doors. Scenes are set up very well and you never once feel as though you are watching a small budget horror movie. The claustrophobic environment of the autopsy room is the perfect setting for the events that occur and the lighting and sound production only add to the scares.

So Close But Not Quite

On a first watch I absolutely loved The Autopsy of Jane Doe. Honestly, I would probably be considering rating it a 9 out of 10. I was that effusive about it. On a second watch, however, I found myself disappointed at the way the movie comes apart in the final act. It’s not as if it becomes awful, it just becomes very generic. It devolves from a fantastic, slow burn horror that plays with the viewer’s mind into a generic jump scare fest with some illogical events and an abrupt ending.

It’s worth pointing out that André Øvredal wanted to make this movie after seeing The Conjuring. I think this shows somewhat in the final third. It’s far closer to generic American Hollywood pop horror than anything else and this is disappointing. The jump scares are formulaic, it becomes entirely predictable, and the pace accelerates to the finish line. I would have much preferred to keep the slow pace and send the movie off in the way it deserved. The very final scene completely sums up The Autopsy of Jane Doe’s transformation from slow burn masterpiece into generic pop horror perfectly.

I don’t think will be a major issue for a lot of people. I actually think there are more people that will dislike the slow burn nature of the first half. The initial lack of scares may put a few people off, as well. This is a film that tries to cater to both groups of fans. It may, however, end up putting each side off with the way it starts as a slow burn thriller before turning into jump scare horror. I really believe the movie is still worth watching but it could have been so much more.

Should You Watch The Autopsy of Jane Doe?

You should definitely watch The Autopsy of Jane Doe if you have any interest in claustrophobic, supernatural, horror. At least for it’s first two acts it is a gripping, intense, slow burn horror of masterful production. It is scary, tense, and incredibly atmospheric. The compelling plot draws you in and you are eager to find out what happened to this mysterious woman and where she came from. It falls apart towards the end but that is a sin that is easy to forgive. Acting is fantastic, cinematography is great and the setting of the coroner’s building is suitably claustrophobic and oppressive. Definitely worth a watch.

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A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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