Autopsy (2008) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2008
Director: Adam Gierasch
Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Robert Patrick, Ross McCall, Jenette Goldstein, Michael Bowen, Robert LaSardo
Rating: R
Release Date: 9 January 2009
Running Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

The Movie Review

Autopsy film still 1


AUTOPSY
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Generally I don't give a darn care if a movie's content mostly a clone of another movie's or if it's simply borrowing many things from other classic horrors. The important thing is how to make it good and how to combine those borrowed things into a new movie that could entertain and give a sense of fun. Every time I picked a title from After Dark HorrorFest, I looked for something different, despite the nods to more prominent horror films from the past. But sometimes After Dark HorrorFest simply mixed the good with the bad. And it was not my luck choosing Autopsy.

Somewhere in Louisiana, a bunch of college kids are driving home in an empty dark road in the middle of the night after attending Mardi Gras party. High on alcohol, they almost road kill a man who's strange enough had roamed the secluded street wearing operation gown. Not very long an ambulance stops by to pick that man up and politely offer the guys to be checked just in case they are having serious injuries. Without any prejudice Emily (Jessica Lowndes), Bobby (Ross Kohn), Jude (Ross McCall), Clare (Ashley Schneider) and their new Russian friend Dmitriy (Arcady Golubovich) hop in the Ambulance. They eventually arrive at Mercy Hospital greeted by overly-strict clean-freak Nurse Marian (Jenette Goldstein). They should've stayed in their car, because Nurse Marian and Doctor Benway (Robert Patrick) have another dark agenda for them.

I was disappointed by Autopsy, the beginning looks like it's gonna be at least those mediocre slasher movies with decent script. But it's not, there is no suspense, there is no tension and the script just failed miserably. I watched this horror film alone in the middle of the night and I wasn't scared at all, I simply struggling to stifle the yawn. Feeling scared is different with feeling repulsed or surprised. 70's and 80's horror movies could deliver something repulsive but still entertaining although in a cheesy way. While Autopsy just borrowed some elements, mainly lighting and colour play, from Italian horror films without inducing any creepiness. And it also depends on cheap boo scares, which are effective thanks only to the sound effect and musical score.

Autopsy was somehow arguably written mainly just to show the blood and gore side. Oh yes, the special make up effects by Gary J. Tunnicliffe are wonderful with those closed up shot of a person being dissected and lifted his body parts and another man got to pull out 8-inch piece of glass out of his stomach, oh yes, those are niceeee. But general audience need more than that, more than just disturbing scenes and grisly imagination. For all I care this movie should be titled: Documentary: The splendid work of special make up effect artist. Duh!

The acting of the lead actress is a mixed bag. Most of the time she's decent but there are times that she seems simply fake. And what's up with Arcady Golubovich? Being a cool dude doesn't not translate to being total wooden. No emotion when their car crashed, no emotion when his friend is dying (kinda). The great performance is coming from Michael Bowen (as Travis), Jenette Goldstein and Robert Patrick. They perform very convincingly sick. Too bad, the sickness level in Autopsy, especially from Travis, definitely would disgust most people. He punches a woman, face and stomach and doing nasty gory thing on them. I didn't see any fun in that and like I said before I also didn't got scared by Autopsy. It's too brutal and disgusting for general viewers and it would probably bore seasoned horror fans.