The Autopsy of Jane Doe Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" by Scream Factory showcases an impressive video presentation that maintains the film's intended 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The MPEG-4 AVC-encoded transfer on a BD-25 disc delivers an average bitrate of 25981 kbps, with an overall bitrate of 32.38 Mbps. The encoding ensures a picture free from blemishes and compression artifacts. Exterior scenes, often shot during overcast conditions, showcase minimized brightness levels, while the interiors of the Tilden Morgue & Crematorium, characterized by low-light settings, are sharply illuminated by overhead lights, particularly highlighting the alabaster skin of Jane Doe, played by Olwen Kelly. The detailed and clear imagery, coupled with dense and thick textures in darker hues, provides a robust viewing experience.

Scream Factory’s commitment to quality is evident in possibly their most polished IFC Midnight title. The Blu-ray offers sharp, crisp visuals with an impressive level of detail that accentuates the film's gruesome elements beautifully. Although not in 4K, the image quality rivals high dynamic range standards with vivid and striking colors. The color reproduction is exemplary, rendering blues, reds, teals, greens, and yellows brilliantly without bleeding, enhancing the film's visual appeal. The depth and dimensionality are solid, with smooth character movement and no noticeable blurring or jitter issues. Rich black levels maintain minimal detail loss in dark scenes, avoiding any crushing.

Flesh tones appear natural and consistent, with close-up shots revealing intricate facial details such as pores, scars, and wrinkles accurately. The overall image remains clean, devoid of noise or artifacts, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. In addition to the stellar video quality, Scream Factory includes twelve scene selections for navigating the feature conveniently.

Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release of "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" features two uncompressed audio tracks: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (2745 kbps, 24-bit) and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo (1699 kbps, 24-bit). The 5.1 mix utilizes the center and front channels, particularly during the film's first act. As Tommy and Austin begin their work on Jane Doe, the surround channels become more active, creating an immersive soundscape. Christian Conrad and Ian Maclagan’s sound design excels in delivering a creepy atmosphere within the morgue, despite occasional issues where dialogue is overshadowed by the ambient sounds, notably during elevator scenes.

The 5.1 track shines in its dynamic range, balancing quieter moments with well-defined ambiance and crisp vocal clarity against intense horror sequences marked by a potent low-frequency extension. The subwoofer effectively dramatizes jump-scare stings, door slams, and tool motors. The surround sound presentation enhances the viewing experience with well-placed rear-channel effects that add to the film’s tension through subtle auditory cues. Music by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans is rendered richly; however, it sometimes competes with dialogue for prominence. Overall, while the soundscape is atmospherically dense, adjusting dialogue levels in the center channel would improve clarity.

With options for English SDH and Spanish subtitles, Scream Factory ensures accessibility. This Blu-ray audio presentation promises a robust home theater experience that delivers on both ambient subtleties and dramatic peaks, encapsulating the eerie essence of "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" effectively.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" present a concise yet engaging assortment of supplemental content. The video quality consistently features 1080p resolution and maintains an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 2.35:1, enhancing the viewing experience while preserving the aesthetic intent of the film. Sound is robustly delivered through DTS-HD MA 2.0, offering solid audio performance. The extras offer a mix of promotional materials including TV spots, teasers, and trailers, giving a glimpse into how the film was marketed. The inclusion of Bonus Trailers for other Shout/IFC Midnight productions adds additional value, making this a well-rounded set of extras for fans and aficionados alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• TV Spots: Two promotional TV spots for the film.
• Teasers: Two teaser trailers.
• Theatrical Trailer: Official theatrical trailer.
• Bonus Trailers: Trailers for other Shout/IFC Midnight films.

"The Autopsy of Jane Doe," directed by André Øvredal, is an engaging horror-thriller that initially captivates with its eerie atmosphere and meticulous details. The film begins in Gratham, Virginia, with Sheriff Burke's discovery of an immaculate yet enigmatic female corpse amidst a brutal murder scene. The narrative then shifts to the Tilden Morgue & Crematorium, where Coroner Tommy Tilden (Brian Cox) and his son, Austin (Emile Hirsch), meticulously examine the victim’s body. Øvredal’s masterful direction, coupled with Roman Osin's cinematography, painstakingly portrays the morbid intricacies of autopsy work, utilizing dynamic framing and diverse camera angles to maintain a balance between clinical precision and suspense.

As the plot unfolds, Tommy and Austin Tilden uncover alarming anomalies within Jane Doe's body, such as internal burns and hidden artifacts, suggesting a haunting backstory. The tension escalates with bizarre occurrences in the morgue—radio disturbances, malfunctioning refrigeration units, and ominous power outages—culminating in a sense of foreboding that permeates the confined setting. Despite these effective elements, the film’s narrative begins to succumb to genre conventions during the latter half, stepping into well-trodden horror clichés that slightly dilute its initial promise. This is reflected in less convincing plot choices and character actions that thwart the story's momentum.

Nevertheless, the solid performances of Cox and Hirsch anchor the film, with their portrayal of a strained yet affectionate father-son relationship deeply resonating with the audience. Ophelia Lovibond, though in a limited role as Austin’s girlfriend Emma, leaves a significant impact. For horror aficionados, "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" is notable for its aesthetic prowess; Øvredal's use of vivid hues and crisp lighting renders an almost mesmerizing visual experience within the macabre morgue setting. Despite some narrative shortcomings, the film remains an intriguing addition to the genre due to its strong performances, suspenseful atmosphere, and unique visual flair.

"The Autopsy of Jane Doe" receives high marks for its eerie atmosphere, gripping storyline, and stellar performances from Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch. The film excels in creating a chilling ambiance, with a well-crafted blend of mystery and horror that is perfect for late-night viewing. The detailed autopsy sequences and the gradual unveiling of Jane Doe’s secrets keep viewers thoroughly engaged. However, the movie's reliance on predictable genre tropes in the second half slightly diminishes its overall impact, suggesting a missed opportunity to maintain its initial originality and intrigue.

The Blu-ray presentation is commendable, boasting high-quality video that captures the film's moody aesthetics with impressive clarity and color precision. The audio quality similarly stands out, with the lossless 5.1 track delivering an immersive and haunting experience through effective channel distribution. Despite these technical strengths, the disc's lack of substantial extra features is a noted drawback. Trailers and TV spots alone do not satisfy the expectations for supplemental content, which many enthusiasts would have appreciated.

After a strong first half, "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" loses its focus by relying too much on formulaic genre tropes. It's still a fairly solid film and fans of Cox and Hirsch will want to give it a look. We also recommend "The Babadook" and "The Witch" for those interested in exploring similar high-quality horror films. Scream Factory delivers an excellent transfer, though the audio encoding on the lossless 5.1 track could have been bolstered and also given a maxed-out bitrate. The disc only has trailers and TV spots to offer in the way of extras. Give the movie a RENTAL first before considering a purchase.