7.6

Autopsy

The thing about cult/genre films mainstream viewers more other hate than love them. A lot of negative online viewer reaction seems to be coming from mainstream audiences who perhaps are unaware of stereotypes and conventions in horror/slasher flicks. They are simply appalled, alarmed and switch off. That's not to say there aren't plenty of 'fanboys' who are equally disappointed, for a whole bunch of other reasons. 

I largely agree with their criticisms of cliché, predictability and poor characterisation from a writing team of three–one of whom is director Adam Gierasch. The set-up: It's Mardi Gras in a post-Katrina New Orleans and a group of attractive young people is out on the town, living life and livin' it large. However, all good things come to an end, especially if people are irresponsible. A car crash ensures they are picked up by a dubious ambulance and taken to an even more dubious hospital. 

There, Nurse Marian carefully disperses the group so they can consult with Dr David Benway (Robert Patrick, the bad guy in Terminator 2) about their possible injuries. Something is definitely awry when he extracts spinal fluid from one of the girls for an apparent reason! It's all downhill (and  down darkened, stormy hallways) from there. 

Autopsy is a nod to many, many films and listing all them would remove some of the filmmakers' intention. Suffice to say, there is a broad tipping of the hat to Dario Argento and Suspiria in particular. The deliberately false colours for atmospherics are effective, for example. Based purely on looks and gags, this is a fun movie and anyone who knows what to expect will not be disappointed. However, a great insight into the human soul it ain't. There is also no prolonged tension, perhaps the biggest disappointment. Some of the gross-out scenes are truly mind-bending: I will never look at a drill the same way. 

Not a date movie but possibly a mate movie.