Alan's Verdict
It was Clare's choice of movie this week and she chose The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
Based on the title alone, I definitely would not have chosen to watch it. Surgical procedures and hearing bones crack always make me feel queasy so I went into this autopsy based film reluctantly.
The opening sequence shows us a crime scene where there's been extreme carnage, mutilated bodies and blood everywhere and, by contrast, an unblemished half buried body in the basement.
Our Jane Doe
We then find ourselves in the location for the rest of the movie, the morgue, in the company of Tommy Tilden, played by Brian Cox (not the star gazing things will only get better northern chap) and Austin Tilden, played by Emile Hirsch, a father and son combo in a family owned business.
It is testament to both the script and acting that their relationship is entirely believable, their interactions seemingly natural and as a result, I'm in!
So when the body of our Jane Doe arrives and, knowing the genre of the film, I know bad things are likely to happen to them and I'm already against that as a concept.
I don't consider it too much of a spoiler to say that an autopsy then takes place, who is our mysterious cadaver and what is her story? I'll avoid any further details but I found myself totally invested in both the mystery of our Jane Doe and the increasingly perilous situations that the Tildens find themselves in.
So despite the inevitable scalpels, bone crunching, skin peeling and all things unpleasant, I really enjoyed this one and was invested in the outcome.
🩸 Gore Score: 7/10 😱 Jump Scares: 6/10 🎬 Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Clare's Take
I really enjoyed this one. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is beautifully crafted — well written, well acted, and deeply atmospheric from start to finish. It has that slow-building sense of dread that never lets up, the kind that creeps under your skin rather than hitting you over the head with it. In many ways it reminded me of a classic ghost story — understated, unsettling, and all the more effective for it.
The gore is present but clinical — fitting for the setting — and the jump scares are well placed without being overdone. Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch are excellent together and their dynamic really carries the film.
🩸 Gore Score: 6/10 😱 Jump Scares: 5/10 🎬 Overall Rating: 8/10
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