The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Plot
Olaf de Jongh (played by Eric Woolfe) is summoned to the morgue in a small American town to oversee a rather unusual autopsy. He is accompanied by his son, Brian (played by Sean Harris). As they examine the body, named Jane Doe, they realize that there is no external cause of death apparent from her first glance - no signs of violence, no external injuries. They are tasked with determining the cause of death, which seems to be impossible at first glance. The medical team who brought the body into the morgue are frustrated and confused, as they cannot understand how Jane Doe ended up in their town with no prior history or record. They decide to allow Olaf and Brian to perform the autopsy in hopes of finally understanding the mysterious death. As Olaf and Brian begin the autopsy, they seem to face an unimaginable challenge. After conducting routine external examinations, they can't find any reason or explanation that may lead to Jane Doe's cause of death. They find nothing unusual, and there is no poison or disease apparent. Every point they want to raise and scrutinize leaves them puzzled. After a number of days pass with no result, the tension between father and son becomes more pronounced. Brian takes the initiative to attempt to look into Jane's skull and search for a possible hidden cause of death while Olaf is convinced they simply need to try to analyze the corpse more thoroughly. The two start to feel frustrated toward one another, each convinced that they have a means to understand Jane Doe's state. However, when Brian comes back from his examination with some intriguing findings, it seems like he may finally be getting closer to the cause of death. After digging deeper, they find unsettling images that show an internal map on the inside of her skull, composed of some sort of foreign, strange, organic matter. Additionally, they begin to realize that Jane Doe is not a natural human being - she has the features of being younger, yet her organs display the decaying features of an older woman. They must try to find a logical explanation, and a trip back in time may be necessary to understand. As the examination carried on through the night, they keep taking apart and collecting samples. Each odd fact collected helps paint an incredibly intricate mystery they deeply dig from, that, with their combined knowledge in forensic sciences, had no logical explanation. On further observation, Olaf takes apart Jane's liver, revealing evidence of severe damage and clear indications of deep, intense harm. It seems they are quickly coming to realize that this was no ordinary woman. She was taken from the unknown, put onto a morgue's slab, and put right back. Olaf starts by studying every pattern of veins present on the inside of Jane's eyes. He comes to believe that there is an organized and highly logical construction to the strange anatomy and physiology. Brian starts to suggest wild theories that would see the being Jane was more than just a human. Olaf believes Jane is linked to the forbidden knowledge found within the dark aspects of some unusual disciplines. They consider various options. However, none seems to give them the final answer. Olaf orders Brian to carefully remove Jane's bones to see the final set of disturbing images and patterns on Jane's skull. They find evidence that possibly would suggest her as being created through an otherworldly being and used to spy and spy using some hidden entrance.
Reviews
Jessica
What more can you ask for from a horror film when the only breathing room the audience gets is watching a Jane Doe being autopsied? The movie spends a great deal of time on the body, with various "clues" constantly emerging, leading you to believe it's going to be a very scientific and medical suspense horror film. But then, it turns out to be so unscientific!
Caleb
Drunk and reckless! Not even wearing masks during the autopsy.
Michaela
The only genuinely terrifying moment for me was when the girlfriend tapped the protagonist on the shoulder at the beginning of the film.
Leah
One of the best horror films of the year. With a unique angle and well-controlled pacing, it effectively utilizes the limited and confined space of the underground morgue, offering both thrills and suspenseful mystery-solving elements. Eschewing cheap jump scares, the film's entire horror atmosphere is crafted with a predominantly still and subtle Japanese approach, which, although perhaps familiar, is undeniably effective. The increasingly ferocious outdoor storm and the approaching sound of bells all indirectly foreshadow the impending danger.
Recommendations
