Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (TV Series) The Autopsy (2022) User Reviews

Best episode so far

[herminiobraz-10996 · 9/10 · 26 October 2022]

With likable characters and an interesting and creepy plot, this episode is the best of the 4 that are available as I'm writing this review.

As in the previous episodes, the visuals are great and the acting is good, however, what sets this episode apart for me are the main characters (the coroner and the sheriff). Both are likable characters and you quickly root for them giving the necessary feeling of fear when they are threatened. This is not the case in the other 3 episodes available so far (maybe in episode 4 you kinda root for the main character and her husband but they are both a bit creepy so I couldn't relate to them as much) which to me elevates this episode beyond the others.

Additionally, the story feels complete, there is proper development in the plot structure that I feel is missing in the first 2 episodes. Here you get a mystery that gets resolved by the end of the episode and they use flashbacks and conversation to fill in the blanks just enough that it feels satisfactory without feeling overbearing.

As mentioned above, visually the episode excels and has some really creepy and gory scenes (I don't recommend eating while watching). The score is also good, properly punctuating the more tense moments.

All said, best episode so far, hope 5 and 6 are equally good...

Shockingly Excellent

[Reviewenstein · 9/10 · 14 November 2022]

It's not often you see work of this caliber on... well, I was going to say "on TV," but honestly, it's rare in any medium at the moment. I haven't read the short story it's based on so I can't judge how faithful an adaptation it is, but I was genuinely surprised by the writing. The premise, the way it unfolds, the concepts, the dialogue - all of it respects the audience's intelligence. This episode is Shakespeare in a world of Dan Browns. The performances are fantastic - which isn't a surprise considering the cast - and it's even gloriously devoid of sociopolitical messaging, which is practically unheard of in the current age.

I will say that it was extraordinarily gruesome. I'm a dedicated horror guy and even I thought it was a little over the top, but it was appropriate to the story and its presentation. All in all, an uncomfortable watch, but an extremely satisfying one.

The Literal Definition of "Body Horror"

[moviefest-90757 · 9/10 · 27 October 2022]

A slow-burn lovecraftian nightmare that takes body horror to levels even your toughest of horror fans would struggle to sit through, "The Autopsy" is a wonderfully accomplished horror short, and the best episode of Del Toro's anthology series so far.

The human body itself is the star of this grim, horrifying tale, as it plays on the fear all humans have over their own body. What makes us tick, and how does it all work in there? But to see the body VIOLENTLY picked apart, with no shying away from the gore at hand, is brutal and jarring to experience.

The practical effects are incredible, and the level of gore is something David Bruckner's "Hellraiser" would be envious about! The slow burn build up is made all the more worth while when you reach the inspiring final 15 minutes of lovecraftian magic.

Dark, twisted, and absolutely unforgiving, David Prior's "The Autopsy" is a well organ-ized horror gem that sends viewers on a trip through the anatomy of their bodies, in all its grotesque yuckiness.

9.2/10

MovieFestUK - IG.

Excellent adaptation of the Michael Shea story

[henchman3 · 10/10 · 29 October 2022]

The short story by Michael Shea that this is based on is one of the greatest pieces of sci fi horror fiction ever committed to the page. When I read it a few years ago all I could think was how it would make an absolutely amazing film, if they managed to stick to the story. When I started watching this and saw it was called The Autopsy I thought 'this can't possibly be the Michael Shea story.' Then as it got started I though 'wow I never thought I'd see his work committed to the screen, I bet they mess this up!' But no, not only were they faithful to the original work, the director also managed to convey the sinister atmosphere of Shea's writing brilliantly. As I was watching I was thinking the whole time this is exactly how I pictured the events in the story. Just an amazing job, acting, cinematography, music, tone, atmosphere, all completely bang on! If you liked this film I would urge you to track down the original story, it really is a masterpiece and gives a lot more detail that would have been very difficult to get across on film. And then try and get hold of anything else by the late, great Michael Shea, his stuff really is mind-bendingly phenomenal, especially his Cthulhu Mythos stories. Anyway, this is one of the best things I've seen in ages, kudos to everyone involved.

Sci-Fi with Horror at Its best

[ecg-prime · 10/10 · 26 October 2022]

I witnessed one of the greatest sci-fi Horror shorts ever. This will not disappoint, however may not appeal to the squeamish but will satisfy all that enjoy a fantastic realm of solid acting with a straight up what's going on here story. The strangeness keeps you guessing. If I expand on the content any further, it will ruin it for the audience. So, I will leave it as one of the best in this series. The characters and actors are steeler, the attention to detail is immense. The set pieces are per period that lends to a uniqueness on its own. The cast are all playing their A game that brings this story to life with qualities of reality.

Very Good Science Fiction

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 28 October 2022]

A medical examiner with a few months to live is brought in by a weary sheriff to examine the bodies of several men who were killed in a coal mine under mysterious circumstances. It turns out there is an alien presence and, as is often the case, a goal of taking over the population of earth. But the most interesting character, played by F. Murray Abraham, of "Amadeus" fame, realizes that if there is to be a stop, he just take dramatic action and face the ultimate sooner than hoped. The final scenes are really quite remarkable and intense. It is great horror with a classic theme and it works very well.

PHENOMENAL! A MUST WATCH!

[notatrex · 10/10 · 27 October 2022]

I won't spoil a thing. Trust me: go in blindly, sit back, and enjoy this greatness. Just, wow. Oh no, it is making me write more text characters so that I can submit this review. I don't want to write more about the episode, to avoid spoilers, but I will note that the imagery is beautiful, the camera perspectives are outstanding and unique and felt like new territory to me, the acting was solid, and the directing was top notch. Do yourself a favor and dig into this one uninterrupted-that's right: put that phone down, get comfy, and focus on this amazing experience becauze you are in for a ride!

Solid, Mature Horror

[frankelee · 7/10 · 30 October 2022]

This episode is starkly different than the first two of this series in it's confident, mature tone, serious direction, and believable acting. It also apparently hews closely to its source material, which probably results in it being a much better story than the rest of the series' episodes.

In it a strange series of disappearances/murders are going on in rural Pennsylvania, culminating in an explosion at a mine, apparently caused by the killer in an act of a suicide. The local sheriff calls in a coroner, and close friend, to look over the bodies in hopes that he can show they were not killed by the bomb, giving their families some hope of an insurance pay out from the mining company.

Now it's not very realistic that a coroner would work through the middle of the night doing autopsies in a spooky, abandoned building, but that's the excuse we need to get the story going. I really enjoyed the first half of the episode, it's not trying to copy the style of True Detective, but it reminded me of it, in it's effective, serious style. The last half descends into body horror and gruesome violence, which is fine stylistically, that's a big part of the horror genre, though it sort of kills the classiness of a story. It's no longer going to be "literary" if you go that route.

The explanation of what's going on is a bit rushed, there was something of a mystery, and a bigger situation going on behind it, and it feels like the show has about a minute to cover it, and then needs to keep moving. It raises the question, is it better to be mysterious and weird but give no real answers, over being direct and graphic, but being forced to give really quick answers that somewhat deflate the sense of mystery and strangeness in your tale?

Absolutely fantastic episode!

[michaelrthomasfofc · 10/10 · 27 October 2022]

Turn out the lights and crank up the sound for this great escape. This is truly unlike any story I've seen, and it's a real gem. (No clues or hints here as to the storyline. That would simply ruin the show.) Suffice to say the writing, acting and production are all superb. The only thing I'll say is that anyone interested in science fiction should love this third installment in the series.

F. Murray Abraham does what he always does, with seemingly no effort. He is that rare actor who can portray every character to perfection because he is so believable and natural. Mr. Abraham deserves more recognition for his abilities.

Stomach-churning sci-fi horror.

[BA_Harrison · 19 December 2022]

This episode of Cabinet of Curiosities is almost an hour long, and for much of the runtime it is quite dull and uneventful (some might call it slow-burn), as Sheriff Nate Craven (Glynn Turman) and Dr. Carl Winters (F. Murray Abraham) discuss the details of a baffling case in which a local man, Joe Allen (Luke Roberts), causes an explosion in a mine, killing ten men, including himself.

Winters has been called in to carry out the autopsies of the dead miners, which is when things start to get interesting. As the doctor (on his own in a creepy refrigerated warehouse) cuts open each corpse (each procedure captured in nauseatingly graphic detail), he begins to notice strange anomalies. Eventually, he decides to work on the body of Allen and learns the terrifying truth: an alien creature has been using humans as hosts and for food.

The final act, in which the alien prepares to make Winters its next host, thus forcing the doctor to take drastic measures, is delightfully yucky and wonderfully twisted and made me glad that I persevered through the slow-burn first half hour or so. I still think that the whole thing would benefit from being a tad shorter and the pace a bit snappier, but it's an entertaining tale nonetheless.

The special make-up effects for the corpses are excellent.

Under the skin.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 25 November 2022]

'The Autopsy (2022)' starts out as a detective story and then transitions into a single-location, slow-burning body horror focused on a mortician who attempts to unravel the mysteries of a series of deaths related to an apparent bombing. As is usual with the short films collected in 'Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet Of Curiosities (2022)', the picture is very front-loaded and features an extended first act that takes its time to set up the characters and story. It isn't boring or anything like that, but it could have done with a bit of a trim considering the direction that the rest of the piece goes in. It's rather stylistically incongruous with the later sequences and is far less interesting than the eponymous autopsy itself (or, rather, autopsies). The acting is really solid, though, and the script is suitably portentous. The same can be said of the atmosphere, which is helped by the piece's crisp yet moody cinematography. The back half is where the affair really shines. With some truly grisly gore (enhanced by fantastic practical effects) and a nasty piece of work for a villain, this segment is suspenseful and unsettling in equal measure. The picture's finale is wince-inducing, genuinely getting under your skin in a way that doesn't just feel intended to shock. Though some of the plot's machinations are a bit dubious, it holds up remarkably well overall and is enjoyable for its majority. The piece is certainly the most effective entry in its wider series and I'd recommend it even to those who aren't interested in watching what else the cabinet has to offer.

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 30 October 2022]

Sheriff Nate Craven calls on the help of old friend and pathologist Doctor Carl Winters, when a body is found buried.

This series is just getting better and better, the quality of this episode compared to the first two, is up several notches, I enjoyed them, I absolutely loved this.

The horror moments here were real, and genuinely unsettling, there are several scenes that'll have you a little uncomfortable.

The autopsy scene was quite a chilling moment I thought, as Carl proceeds, you just sit waiting patiently for something to happen.

Production values are off the scale, I would say that this has film like qualities, but compared to recent films, this is actually up a notch from those. The special effects continue to be just that, special, truly fantastic.

Superb acting, everyone present played their part incredibly well, there were no spare parts.

Excellent, 9/10.

Not for the squeamish

[mandolorian-29074 · 7/10 · 1 November 2022]

I thought this was a good episode, although it started slow it picked up the pace and had an interesting ending. The acting was great from all the actors. To make a horror scary you have to make the characters feel like real people and act like real people and they do this perfectly. It gives a good sense of dread to the story. The photography was very impressive and easy to follow, as well as the story. They also give some backstory to the main characters which is always important. As my title suggests it is not for the squeamish as there are scenes of a rather gruesome autopsy. I thought the main villain of the story was interesting and unique. Overall, it a dark, real, intelligent episode with good photography and acting. Things I didn't like; build up was to slow, relied on gruesomeness a bit to much, and could have been more characters in the story.

Gore is not scary

[erlend-46496 · 5/10 · 28 October 2022]

F. Murray Abraham is great, as always, but the episode is weak. It is interesting at first, and the episode has it's moments, but it is mainly just gore. And gore is boring. Close ups of autopsies have be done before, ad nauseam, and it's not shocking.

The episode starts out as a mystery and there is a fine build up and introduction of the characters. The cinematography is fine, nothing exeptional, but okay. Sadly it never allows the story to be the focus. The story becomes a frame, in which they stuff a lot of close ups of bodies, stiching, cutting, cracking, etc.. The sound department probably had fun with all squising and splattering. I got bored.

Superb Horror with Next Level Acting

[Adwsdasd · 9/10 · 27 October 2022]

Enabled through brillant writing by David S. Goyer and apparent care for medical details and skilled crafted dialogue, F. Murray Abraham delivers a chilling performance, aided by an overall excellent cast, including Glynn Turman and Luke Roberts.

Set in the outgoing 1970s the attention to details and elaborate cinematography rivals David Fincher's finest works. In lesser hands this could have been a mediocre slasher with some cheap shockers, but David Prior transforms it into an extremely gripping, rhythmically well-balanced mood piece that drags you in and takes you for a ride just like... well, it needs to be seen instead of being spoiled in this here review.

All that should be said about its content is that Abraham plays a seasoned coroner begged for help by an old friend to examine the cause of death of several miners in a small town.

Sheer cinematic joy! Watch it!

Cat & mouse.

[W011y4m5 · 8/10 · 26 October 2022]

"The Autopsy" stands out from the previous stories already told this season because it refreshingly makes a noticeable effort to be continually engaging throughout; rather than rehashing old horror tropes, telling an overly simplistic tale or churning out unoriginal concepts, writer David S. Goyer & director David Prior cleverly craft a narrative which branches from a familiar plot development (you'd typically find in a film of this genre) & then subvert expectations by doing their own, unique thing which feels genuinely distinctive.

Of course (spoiler) an alien / vampire / invasion of the body snatchers idea isn't exactly something which has never been done before, but utilising the murder mystery approach & then having the characters continually challenging each other from beginning to end does mean that both the protagonist & antagonist force the audience to play an active role in the unfolding drama, wondering how each participant will react to the other's actions. Hence, it's intellectually stimulating because we seriously have to pay attention whilst watching & respond (ourselves), preempting the person's move & how they'll counter it - before they've even made it. A puzzle box of sorts (in a rather macabre game) - which thankfully has the benefit of drawing to a rewarding conclusion. Of course, it's far from genius, but the installment does however have a smart wit that I definitely appreciate & therefore, I'm glad I took the time to watch this one.

Sooooo good!

[jessicacanderson-06643 · 10/10 · 29 October 2022]

I've found a lot of horror genre tend to rely a lot on bad acting, sub par plotlines, and jump scare/scary imagery. To me, this makes whatever I'm watching fall flat and leave me craving something more. This episode, however, left me completely satisfied!! The plot is intriguing, the acting is done well, you care for characters in a short time without it feeling forced. What I loved most was the intelligent story telling and phenomenal camera shots and pacing. I won't say anything to spoil the episode because I think you need to go in blind, sit back and enjoy what this story has to offer!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Best Episode So Far

[sayalawliet · 8/10 · 28 October 2022]

Excellent! It is indeed a perfect combination of sci-fi and horror!

I dare say that until three-quarters of this episode there is absolutely no thought of what will follow. The coroner is probably my favorite kind of horror movie protagonist! The ending is also very satisfying.

The first half seems to be a bit lengthy though, and the deletion of some scenes does not seem to affect the integrity of the overall story. There is also no explanation as to why the bodies found in the woods had strange facets in the first place.

All in all, an episode that will definitely not let you down! I almost began to imagine what it would be like to make this setting more complete and make an entire episode of sci-fi thrillers dedicated to this worldview.

Great segment elevated by the writing, performances, and atmosphere! [+72%]

[arungeorge13 · 7/10 · 30 October 2022]

David Prior sure knows how to utilize resources to create a terrifyingly spooky atmosphere. I had my own reservations on David S. Goyer penning the teleplay but this piece of cosmic body horror mixed with elements of an investigative thriller keeps you riveted throughout. The leads are easy to get behind as they are well-etched, well performed (especially F. Murray Abraham and Glynn Turman) and the dialogue-writing is solid. The plot goes through its interesting audio-visual developments, not letting you lose even the slightest of attention once the actual autopsy commences. Also, flashbacks are constructively used to disclose important bits of information. Practical effects are neatly juxtaposed with CGI to bring about something nauseatingly impressive.

GROSS ME OUT MAN!

[StellaGibson-197-606285 · 9/10 · 28 October 2022]

So this third episode was really good, unlike the last two which I thought were silly and reminded me of Walt Disney haunted house type stuff and Creep Night from the 1980's.

This one was GROSS GORY and CREEPY and special effects were pretty well done.

My dog got hungry just watching the ending with me. HA HA HA!

It gave me the shivies but in a good way. The acting was really stand out and the direction was focused. The sets were ok.

I remember when Alien came out and everybody in the theatre was so in awe and scared silly when the baby alien tore through the guys stomach. That was considered pretty gory back then. Then there was that disturbing David Cronenberg movie, Dead Ringers with Jeremy Irons and Geneviève Bujold. This movie actually upset me so much when I saw it in the theatre I could not get it out of my head for a long time. Now-a-days all these special effects are a dime a dozen, but it is the story that can make something stand out more than other films and this episode The Autopsy is one of those well executed stories!

The Autopsy

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 6 November 2022]

F. Murray Abraham is great on comedies as we saw on Mythic QUest, but he can be great in dramas too. This felt a little bit True Detective esque for the first half hour or so.

Then, like all of the Cabinet of Curiousities episodes before it, it got completley insane. We had traveling aliens that hijack bodies to grow and thrive.

The ending was kind of entertaining, but it seemed like it would be a stretch for him to be able to carve a sentence like that into his chest.

A quality episode for sure, but do they have to go the absurdly supernatural route each and every time or could they shake it up a bit?

Don't eat before watching

[wheeler-35041 · 8/10 · 29 October 2022]

This episode pushes the limits I suggest if you have a sensitive stomach don't watch the gore is pretty graphic and honestly should hold an NC-17 rating I'm not one to turn away but this made me even feel uncomfortable.

This takes horror genre to the next level even my wife got sick and had to turn away.

Overall the sci-fi storyline is great and definitely makes you think aliens or the thing but taken to the next level. The parasite infection definitely has a complex character build F Murray Abraham gives an outstanding performance.

Watch with caution. Highly not recommended for children or teens.

Glynn Turman Is This Ep's Saving Grace

[awnuce360 · 7/10 · 12 December 2022]

As with previous episodes, the cinematography and technical aspects are great, but the script is only so-so. However, Glynn Turman elevates this episode with his performance as Sheriff Nate Craven, stealing scenes from the legendary F. Murray Abraham! Worth watching, but only just in my view.

This series could have been so much better if they had focused on writing as well as directing. At least this script is not a retread of the first two episodes which were basically variations on the same themes and basic setup.

On a side note, since I have words to burn: I subscribed to Netflix's 4k plan for years off and on, but after switching to the much cheaper HD plan to save money, I can't honestly see that much of a difference, despite having fast Wi-Fi and a great OLED TV. Consider spending less on a cheaper plan if you need to save money.

if you like gore and endless suffering, this one is for you

[cyndi_fan247 · 1/10 · 29 October 2022]

An episode called Autopsy where a doctor performs... you guessed it- autopsies. Is this horror? I don't think it is. But it's certainly really disgusting and sickening to watch.

Maybe this is some peoples cup of tea. But it's not for me. This is not a curiousity, it's just really nasty. And also really just terribly depressing. Aliens that want to eat people and make them suffer. I got 3/4 of the way through and I almost stopped halfway, but I kept going and it's just very stressful to watch at this point. We have no idea of motive for this alien person, just that he's "hungry" and ham-fisted significance of tons and tons of close ups of spiders, which the alien obviously communicates with, but I guess we won't find out even one single "why" until the end.

There is nothing interesting about this story. It's just gross.

Best so far

[JonyVeana · 10/10 · 18 November 2022]

Amazing episode of one hour duration, it was a horror masterpiece and amazing in every aspect, so glad im watching this Del Toro anthology series, im a little afraid because with this episode i find hard for the other 5 to surpass this third one but lets see, Murray acting was supreme and oscar worthy, the music and soundtrack was atmospheric and scary at the same time, im excited for the other episode, i very much enjoy anthology series, so i left you guys because i need to take a shower with my girl and then i will watch the other bunch of episodes after you know what, im just going to say im taking a very long shower 😝