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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. |
