(the following text refers to the VHS version)

Tetsuo The Iron Man

(Shinya Tsukamoto;1989)

(Fox Lorber / Image )

A man struggles with the fact that he is slowly turning into an evil metal monstrosity. Will he be able to face his nemesis the… uhh… rusty metal guy?

More of an art film than a horror flick, this bizarre Japanese film is considered a classic within tight knit horror communities. And rightfully so. Shot in black and white, this film is dark, graphic and surreal. The film relies mostly on visuals to tell the story, bombarding the viewer with vivid imagery with a style all its own. There’s some decent effects and the use of black and white film just enhances the whole industrial look of the scenery. A small amount of T&A, but where this film shines is Tetsuo’s giant metal penis drill. What a sight to behold! Highlights include Tetsuo screwing (literally) his girlfriend to death, and Tetsuo being sodomized by a woman’s tentacle-like metal entrails. And if you can glean more of a plot that what I described above, more power to you. If not, just go with it. If you’re into avant garde Japanese cinema, or just like messed up films, check this one out. 

Overall Score: 7

(Rating scale is out of 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 the best)