Still working my way through Letterboxd’s Top 250 Horror Films, and 1989 Japanese sci-fi body-horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man, which was written, directed, produced, and edited by Shinya Tsukamoto, has been on my watchlist for far too long. Tsukamoto conveys a certifiably insane tone that almost feels like an hour long music video at times, and Lynchian chaos at others. The only other time I remember feeling as disoriented, gobsmacked and happy from watching a film was upon finishing my first viewing of The Evil Dead. There’s a sense of absolute chaos practically jumping off the screen, and although I’m not entirely sure I followed everything that happened, I can’t stop thinking about Tetsuo: The Iron Man. 

While not exactly a coherent story, it is a film stringing together a series of unforgettable horror images that I can’t quite compare to anything else. I do know though, that sound design is an integral piece of Tetsuo. There’s a pummeling, throbbing heart to its aural atmosphere that feels equally as important as its incredibly unique visual style. 

And the effects… How were some of these practical moments pulled off so flawlessly with such a barebones crew? I don’t think I even want to know, and would rather just be mystified by what I just saw. 

Just knowing something as bonkers as Tetsuo: The Iron Man exists warms my heart so damn much. What a lovely, gloomy day for some Japanese, punk rock surrealism.
🤖🦾🦿🔪🩸⛓️‍💥