Better than I expected and not as gruesome as the rather ungainly title might suggest, "Autopsy" is a rugged Giallo showcasing lots and lots of Mimsy Farmer sans wardrobe, plus some typical genre plot twists and red herrings.Whilst the initial scenes imply something almost supernatural (corpse copulation?), this well paced little shocker quickly finds its familiar Giallo groove as morgue physician Farmer begins to emotionally unravel under the pressures of documenting a burgeoning spate of apparent suicides. Anglo-Italian Lovelock is Farmer's care-free (and somewhat perverted) BF, whilst fellow Americano Barry Primus plays a priest with a tumultuous past. Special mention too for Ernesto Colli as a creepy morgue attendant and Angela Goodwin and her wicked sense of dark humour.Like most of its ilk, the real story doesn't emerge for some time and the characters flirt with danger as they get closer to the culprit; there's also enough nudity to make a peeping Tom blush, and some occasional gore (which you'd expect in a movie entitled "Autopsy" though as aforesaid, it's not a butcher's shop nor meat market for gore).The title is likely to offend most punters, which is a shame because it's not a bad movie, probably attracting an unwarranted notoriety it doesn't deserve. But that's their loss - if you enjoy Giallo, you should be quite satisfied with this offering (which despite various published release dates, appears to have been made in 1973 according to the opening titles).

"Autopsy", as it's known here in North America, is pretty good of its type, with a solid, intriguing story, one that doesn't get bogged down with twists. It's got some gore going for it, but in truth is never as violent as that American title would indicate. The story is of course fairly sordid, but the level of sleaze is never too high, with doses of female flesh here and there.Lovely Mimsy Farmer is a pathology student in Rome puzzling over a succession of suicides, partly because she's doing a thesis on natural vs. faked suicides. Could these people really be killing themselves, or is a murderer at work? Simona (Farmer) works with a young race car driver turned priest, Paul Lenox (the under-rated veteran character actor Barry Primus) to determine the truth. One of these deaths was that of Lenox's sister, and he's convinced she had to have been killed by someone else.This is never too hard to follow, and it's got at least one appreciably unique gimmick going for it: sunspots, it's theorized, could be inducing some sort of mass psychosis in the minds of the victims. The story is populated with entertaining characters, including Simona's father (Carlo Cattaneo), his romantic partner (Angela Goodwin), and Simona's friend Edgar, played by the handsome Ray Lovelock whom fans of foreign horror will recognize from "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" and "Last House on the Beach".Enriched by an Ennio Morricone music score that's equal parts beautiful and spooky, "Autopsy" is more straightforward than some Giallo fans may expect, although it still finds the time to feature some truly hideous, hallucinatory imagery. Use of locations is a plus, as are the performances. Mimsy is appealing and believably vulnerable, Primus is appropriately intense, and Lovelock is amusing to watch every time he's on screen. Credit is due to co-writer and director Armando Crispino, who reels us in immediately with a grabber of an opening.All in all, this is good stuff; it might not be trashy enough for some lovers of the Giallo genre, but it entertains solidly and stays on track up to its grim finish.Seven out of 10.

Well, given all I'd heard about Autopsy; I was expecting to find a below average slice of Giallo, but it actually does everything you could ask of a film like this, and it does it well. The only film I'd previously seen from Armando Crispino was the somewhat choppy The Dead Are Alive, but Autopsy sticks more closely to the classic Giallo structure, and is actually a better film for it. The plot is your typical Giallo labyrinth, and while it can become a bit too convoluted at times, it's not often difficult to follow and most of it makes sense by the end. The film opens with a bang as we watch a series of suicides unfold around Rome. We then focus on Simona; a pathologist writing a thesis on real and fake suicides. Shortly thereafter, another body enters the morgue and it is that of Betty Lenox, who has apparently committed suicide. Betty's brother Paul, a priest, doesn't believe that his sister took her own life, and the evidence of narcotics found by Simona supports that theory. Simona's personal life is also in turmoil, as her chauvinistic boyfriend's remarks are driving her closer to Paul, and there's something funny going on with her father… The opening of the film leads you to believe that you're going to be in for a particularly gritty and mean spirited Giallo. The fact that the film doesn't follow up on that promise is, I'm guessing, the reason why it doesn't seem to have gained itself a favourable reputation. Armando Crispino puts the focus on the mystery behind the murders rather than the murders themselves, and this means that Autopsy is very tense and interesting for most of its duration. The film does feature a lot of bizarre elements - the main heroine's hallucinations being a good example - that don't really go anywhere. However, all of Crispino's absurdities serve the film in another way, and that is in terms of atmosphere. Autopsy is very surreal throughout, and this compliments the convoluted plot brilliantly. Mimsey Farmer takes the lead role, and doesn't deliver your standard Giallo performance. She keeps her clothes on for most of the film, and her character's nature makes her difficult to care about at times. She is flanked by two more interesting performances from Barry Primus and Ray Lovelock, who manage to keep things ticking over nicely. The ending isn't much of a surprise as there's only really two people who could be behind the killings by then; but the film still deserves plaudits for the way that it mixes so many different elements that make sure the plot continues to thicken, and the fact that it looks pretty is a bonus as well. Overall, Autopsy is a Giallo with problems - but it's still a great watch and therefore comes highly recommended.

'Autopsy' is a very strange and confusing giallo that has to be seen to be believed! Newcomers to the genre best steer clear, but buffs will find this one totally fascinating. Mimsy Farmer (Fulci's 'The Black Cat') stars as an uptight doctor who between wrestling with freaky hallucinations of horny corpses(!) investigates a series of suicides supposedly caused by sunspots(!). A mysterious car racer turned priest (!) (Barry Primus of Scorsese's 'Boxcar Bertha') gets involved in the mystery, though she is unsure whether he is an ally or a suspect. Also in the cast is Ray Lovelock ('The Living Dead In Manchester Morgue') as Farmer's moody and cynical boyfriend. The brief plot synopsis doesn't give you any idea of just how convoluted and nutty this one is. Many will probably find it too flamboyant to stick with until the end, but personally I found it impossible to resist. Easily the most bizarre giallo I've ever seen!