After a nine-year absence following his film “Future Hunter” in 2000, director Andre Ovredal came back with the successful found footage example “Troll Hunter.” Now, after a full six years, he returns with brand-new and accomplished work. It seems that the director, who strives to improve himself in the horror genre, has gained a lot after “Troll Hunter.” “The Autopsy of Jane Doe” is one of the most successful suspense films you can watch lately, despite its low budget. Inspired by the film “The Conjuring,” which he watched in 2013, director Andre Ovredal immediately called his agency, and preparations for the film began as soon as the idea for the screenplay came to his mind.
The crime scene investigation team discovers another body buried underground in a house where several people are found dead. The body is immediately sent for autopsy, and the cause of death must be determined so that the police can make a statement by morning. Unidentified individuals or bodies in America are referred to as Jane Doe or Joe Doe. In the morgue, Austin (Emile Hirsch), who works with his father, Tommy (Brian Cox), immediately starts the process, and Jane Doe’s autopsy begins. However, the incoming body is of a kind that the father and son have never encountered before, and as the autopsy progresses, strange occurrences start happening one after another.
The director, who worked with a much more professional cast and crew compared to his previous two feature films, was very pleased with his actors. He couldn’t stop praising the elevator scene in one part of the film and expressed admiration for the actors’ performances. Similarly, Olwen Catherine Kelly, who played the entire film as a corpse, can be said to have done a remarkable job. Her beauty and flawless body successfully attract attention, which is one of the director’s proudest points. After being showcased at film festivals, the Estonian production was released and received significant attention.
Andre Ovredal has significantly developed himself in the field of directing. The director skillfully utilizes low angles, close-ups, and detail shots extensively used in suspense films, effectively doubling the level of tension with his cinematography. However, the most successful aspect of the film is its screenplay. Creating a scenario where the mystery intensifies every minute, and answers remain elusive until the very end. But what pleased me was the answer to the question “Why haven’t we died yet.” The director has found a solution to the illogicality of protagonists in films being helpless against the villain and not dying, and he successfully maintains this throughout the film. Despite occasional dips in tempo, which may pose a challenge in terms of the screenplay and perhaps even the acting, the film is otherwise flawless.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe manages to keep you engaged from beginning to end. With mystery taking precedence over suspense, you watch the movie with curiosity, unable to take your eyes off the screen, accompanied by the question, “What will happen next?” With its impressive performances, quality screenplay, and high-level cinematography, the film is a successful example in the horror genre, a work that will undoubtedly be remembered in the future.
Cast & Crew
director: André Øvredal
writers: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing
starring: Brian Cox, Emile Hirsch, Ophelia Lovibond, Michael McElhatton, Olwen Catherine Kelly
UK | 2016 | 86 MINUTES |