Unearthing Horror Once Again
Nearly a decade after André Øvredal’s chilling original, The Autopsy of Jane Doe 2 resurrects the mystery of cinema’s most unsettling corpse. Picking up five years after the first film, the sequel follows a new team of forensic experts who are called to examine Jane Doe when her body inexplicably resurfaces in a charred Massachusetts church. This time, the autopsy doesn’t just take place in a small-town morgue but in a high-security research facility, where science and the supernatural collide.
The story centers on Emma Tilden (Cailee Spaeny), a determined medical examiner haunted by her father’s connection to the original case. Alongside a hardened occult consultant (David Harbour), Emma tries to uncover Jane’s origins. But as the team begins their examination, reality unravels—time loops, ghostly voices, and inexplicable events suggest that Jane’s presence is more than a curse. She is not just a victim of past witch trials; she is a vessel of centuries-old vengeance, punishing anyone who dares to dissect her secrets.
Director André Øvredal retains the tension and slow-burn dread of the first film while expanding the scale. The sterile, maze-like facility amplifies the feeling of isolation, and the film smartly avoids over-explaining Jane’s mythology. Olwen Kelly reprises her role as Jane, her eerie stillness once again stealing the spotlight, while Spaeny brings emotional weight to a story about grief and generational trauma.
The sequel’s strength lies in its restraint. Rather than relying on cheap scares, it builds terror through sound design, chilling imagery, and a constant sense of dread. The result is a film that feels larger yet no less intimate, exploring themes of human arrogance and the dangers of seeking control over the unknown.
While not as startlingly fresh as the original, The Autopsy of Jane Doe 2 delivers a worthy, unsettling continuation. Fans of atmospheric, psychological horror will find themselves gripped until the haunting final moments.
Rating: 8/10
