The Corpse of Anna Fritz

The Corpse of Anna Fritz

The Corpse of Anna Fritz (El cadáver de Anna Fritz, 2015) is a Spanish psychological thriller directed by Hèctor Hernández Vicens in his feature debut. Dark, disturbing, and morally provocative, the film explores the depravity of human behavior under the guise of a minimalistic, claustrophobic horror setup. With a short runtime and a single-location setting, the film delivers intense suspense and uncomfortable moral questions that linger long after the credits roll.

The story revolves around the sudden death of Anna Fritz, a beautiful young actress and international celebrity whose passing shocks the world. Her body is taken to a hospital morgue, where Pau, a shy orderly, is working the night shift. Fascinated by the corpse of the famous star, Pau sends photos to his two friends, Iván and Javi, who soon arrive at the morgue to see her body in person. What begins as a morbid curiosity quickly escalates into something far more disturbing.

Fuelled by drugs, toxic masculinity, and a twisted sense of entitlement, Iván suggests they engage in necrophilic acts with Anna’s body. Despite Javi’s hesitation, Iván and Pau proceed—until the situation takes a horrifying turn: Anna Fritz opens her eyes. She is not dead.

What follows is a psychological game of survival, panic, and shifting morality. The friends now face a terrifying dilemma—one that exposes their true natures. Some want to help her, others want to silence her. Trapped in the morgue with a woman they believed dead just moments before, they begin to unravel under the weight of guilt, fear, and self-preservation. The film quickly becomes a battle of conscience versus control, victim versus predator, and morality versus survival.

What makes The Corpse of Anna Fritz so unsettling is not just its shocking premise, but how realistically it portrays the psychology of ordinary people making horrific decisions. There are no supernatural elements or traditional horror tropes. Instead, the horror comes from the characters themselves—their choices, their rationalizations, and their descent into evil. It’s a brutal commentary on voyeurism, the objectification of women, and how fame can turn a person into a "thing" in the eyes of others.

The film’s tight, almost stage-like setting in the morgue enhances the sense of claustrophobia and helplessness. The tension escalates through long, quiet moments, sudden bursts of violence, and shifting alliances. The acting, especially from Alba Ribas as Anna Fritz, is effective and visceral. Her transformation from victim to survivor gives the film an empowering, though harrowing, edge.

The Corpse of Anna Fritz is not an easy film to watch, and it certainly isn’t for everyone. Its subject matter is deeply disturbing, and it doesn't shy away from showing humanity at its most depraved. However, as a piece of psychological horror, it succeeds in provoking thought, tension, and dread in equal measure. For viewers who appreciate horror films that challenge moral boundaries and explore the darker sides of human nature, this is a film that leaves a lasting, uneasy impression.