Purely Joyful Movie!

Expected more

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

This is actually my first time writing a review just to clarify and while I'm not trying to be rude, as I know this film definitely isn't for everyone and that taste is purely subjective. However I totally disagree & can't help but shake my head with what other reviewers have previously said. I don't understand all the hate. Don't get me wrong, despite some of its flaws, this is a quite a unique, unconventional, surreal, eerie, hallucinatory (especially speaking of the first 20 minutes alone), lurid, slow-burning yet quite compelling, and lastly a bit exploitative but also more of an unusual Grindhouse take on Giallo that takes place mainly in a morgue, therefore it's not long after the film starts, that begins to take on quite a morbid tone that lingers a good portion throughout. Like other people have also said, it is probably one of the most unusual Giallos ever made.. BUT that's not a bad thing at all! FYI Make sure you watch it fully UNCUT. The plot is admittedly a bit confusing here and there and a tad complex thus being hard to follow at times with repeating viewings being a necessity, but overall it's definitely a cult-classic with a notorious reputation resulting in it remaining cut & censored (for some understandable reasons as the special effects are quite good), but unfortunately has fallen into relative obscurity until recently. The soundtrack is also fantastic and quite beautifully done, primarily speaking of the main theme by Ennio Morricone. It's original title is Macchie Solari (Sunspots) AKA The Victim. There is some pretty good gore, acting, suspense, character development and effective moments also but unfortunately it was also kind of a let down at the same time since my expectations were too high and I was honestly expecting to be blown away but it's still definitely worth recommending for the seasoned horror buff or those getting into Italian horror even though it could have been better. Mimsy Farmer is quite attractive & her role of a woman who works at a morgue while also writing a college thesis of the differences between authentic suicide and simulated suicide as well as also being on the edge of sanity is played actually quite well. Ray Lovelock (who also starred in the zombie cult-classic "The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue" AKA "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie") is rather great too as the supporting actor in a interesting deviant role as Mimsy's photographer boyfriend. I don't want to spoil anything but when the final twist is made, you don't see it coming or like myself can't believe that he had more to do with the film than you thought as half the time you sincerely can't figure out just who could be behind the string of grisly murders that are made to look like suicides. For those who don't know, this is actually the film where the fantastic US Death metal band "Autopsy" got their name from as I remember reading a while ago that some of the band members had actually previously seen movie and were a fan of it too. I watched this mean-spirited film last night and it's probably going to be stuck in my head for several more days primarily due to some of its intense imagery. Final Rating: 7.5 (rounded up to 8 stars for IMDb).

I heard that "Autopsy" was pretty much a giallo, so I avoided buying it for full price for some time. When it went on sale at my local shoppe, though, I thought, what the hell? I'll give it a gander.When the film started I immediately got the feeling that it was going to be pretty gross. It's got some decent gore for a giallo. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to think of another to beat it in that regard.The music and sound is also spectacular. Ennio doesn't disappoint here. It's chilling actually.For all the good stuff, though, there is one big drawback: the editing is terrible. It is noticeably bad in some parts. When the camera cuts to a different view of the same scene, there are noticeable differences in the scenery. For example: a scene where a janitor is whipping a yelping dog that is lying on the ground with a belt, it cuts away, and in a split second the dog is standing up panting, looking perfectly happy. Normally, I am completely fine with subtle imperfections. But in this case, they are out of place. It seems the director and editors spent more time trying to shock the viewer than they spent on consistency.Also, the film is a little difficult to follow. If you get up for a beer, you will have to pause it so you don't get lost.Overall, this is one of the nastiest giallos I have seen, totally original and graphic, and nicely done. Not quite an Argento...but close.7 out of 10, kids.

Aside from Dario Argento gialli, Autopsy (or Macchie solari, which translates as Sun Spots) is my favorite giallo. It's truly weird, quirky, trashy and unlike anything I've ever seen. Some might be disappointed by the fact that it doesn't have a gloved killer or the murders aren't as spectacular as those in Argento's movies but I personally liked the fact that everything in this giallo was so uncommon. For once, the typically convoluted giallo story-line wasn't on cruise control. What also stands out in this film is the sleaze factor and its almost machine gun delivery, which made me wonder what drug the director was on. The list of sleazy stuff is endless. There's nudity and several sex scenes. I've lost count on the number of up-skirt shots on Mimsy Farmer's dress. How many times Farmer's clothes were riped off. Farmer's boyfriend (handsome Ray Lovelock) trying to force himself on her. Her coworker trying to rape her, whom she ferociously attacks back at. Gratuitous shots of the young woman's beautiful naked body in the morgue. The hallucination in the morgue at the beginning (great!). The photos of real dead people in the museum. The slide show, which includes dubious erections. The tempestuous race-driver turned priest (the not so handsome Barry Primus) whom Mimsy falls in love with (blasphemy!). Everyone in the movie is sorta crazed and on edge. The suicides during the opening are startling in it's rapid-fire delivery. In fact, the whole film's direction teeters on delerium. It feels like the sun had affecting everyone, including the director, the screenwriter and the editor.I love the fact that the director deliberately leaves out bits of information and as we watch the movie, we quickly assume this and that, and then the director sneaks-in the missing info, we suddenly feel a bit silly or ashame over what we thought at first. For example, when we see the man swimming in the pool. We don't know who he is. As he swims to the edge, the camera pans up on Mimsy (and that quasi up-skirt shot) which makes us think that the man was trying to take a peek or is attracted to her in a sexual way. The next scene, the man is shown to be Mimsy's father. Okay! The director continuously pulls the rug from under us, throws-off our expectations throughout the movie with EVERY little detail imaginable, which makes for a trippy experience. We're never sure who's who or what's what. The really funny part about all of this is the director deliberately mixes and remixes everything as to create confusion but when the killer's identity is revealed, it's done in the most calm, concise and matter-of-fact way. The killer is the sanest person amongst the sun-stroked bunch.Does this quirky direction automatically make AUTOPSY a great movie? Not really but it IS unique. I've never seen a deliberatly chaotic direction like this. There were so many dull giallos made in the 1970s, all of which look too glossy and artificial, like the dreadfully kitschy CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS or boring TORSO, that AUTOPSY stands out because of its sleazy and gritty direction. It's not your typical giallo. If Joel Schumacher is to CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS, then Martin Scorcesse (of the 1970s) is to AUTOPSY: Brash, over-the-top, lurid and with a chip on its shoulder. There are several stand-out scenes in AUTOPSY, including the suicides, the hallucination scene at the morgue, and the whole moment at the museum, where there's a booby trap rigged to kill Mimsy. The dialogue is at times uproariously bad. And when you think you lost track of the story, everything eventually falls together. AUTOPSY is a whirlwind of images, sounds (great Ennio Morricone soundtrack!) and questionable stuff that makes for a memorable viewing experience. In the end, it's not really great but its unique direction sure makes up for its obvious shortcomings. If you're game, you'll enjoy it. If you're not game, well, you'll be annoyed or turned-off by it.

Recently, when going through my horror collection, I decided to check out all my Italian horrors. I figured that since I was going to Italy I might as well watch some Italian horror. AUTOPSY is much tamer than the cover illustrates, though it has its gory moments. It is overall a very stylish horror film that makes good use of its sets. The acting was great and I enjoyed the Italian scenery. ***out of****For a very good film overall that's stylish and worth at least one viewing.