'Tetsuo: The Iron Man' is quite possibly the strangest Japanese film I have ever seen, and that's saying a lot. Released in 1989 and directed by Shinya Tsukamoto who is famous for his low budget and surreal cinema the plot revolves around a young man who is attacked one day by what seems to be a woman possessed by some mutated entity that leaves her covered in metal parts. After he returns home, he begins to slowly mutate into a bio-mechanical creature and wreaks havoc as he attempts to find out who or what has done this to him.
The film is often compared with 1977's 'Eraserhead' and it's easy to see some similarities. The underground look and black and white film certainly give it that David Lynch feel, but Tsukamoto seemed to have taken inspiration from the work of Swiss artist H.R. Giger who designed the titular creature in the 'Alien' franchise. However to say that 'Tetsuo' is merely an imitation is an insult to the film itself as it offers a unique experience you won't find anywhere else. One minute you have a man running down a street covered in metal parts, and then we see a sped up stop motion animated sequence that is frantic and hyperactive, giving you a huge jolt of adrenaline.
If I had to criticize 'Tetsuo: The Iron Man'? I would say that those looking for cohesion may want to look at the director's later work. This is a modern art piece in motion so what little narrative is there is mainly up to the viewer to interpret. Even then, there are some moments where I'm just left scratching my head wondering just what the hell was going on in this man's head? The film also has a sequel that has a bit more polish to it and it's also a film I recommend but the original is where you should start if you're looking for something truly unique.
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(Watch 'Tetsuo' on Amazon)
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