Tetsuo: The Iron Man / Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer - Double Disc Set [Blu-ray]

As Amazon merges both DVD and Blu Ray reviews together I would like to point out that the following is for the DVD release. In this set we have the new high definition transfers, supervised by Shinya Tsukamoto himself, of Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Tetsuo: Body Hammer. And as a bonus there's the fourty five minute short film, The Adventures of Denchu Kozo also known as The Adventures of Electric Rod Boy. The picture for both main features is sharper, clearer and more defined than previous releases.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man - After driving his car into a man known as the Metal Fetishist, the 'Salary Man' undergoes a terrifying mutation as cybernetic components begin to emerge from his body. Dealing with his tranformation he learns that the Metal Fetishist is cursed with the same affliction and seeks retribtution. Shot in crisp black and white and complimented perfectly with an excellent soundtrack by frequent Tsukamoto collaborator Chu Ishikawa, Tetsuo: The Iron Man is raw, furious and striking in its visual metaphor as it portrays the consumption of technology and the mechanical ugliness at the heart of the average man.

Tetsuo: Body Hammer - More of a self contained film than a sequel, Body Hammer shows another side to the mechanical madness. A man is attacked and has his son taken from him. The encounter somehow triggers a rage induced mutation that tranforms his body into a mechanised weapon. Unlike Iron Man, this film is shot in deep sumptuous colour and focuses on the mechanism of rage. Also with a Chu Ishikawa soundtrack it has the brilliant song, A Burnt Figure.

The Adventures of Denchu Kozo - A comical tale about a boy with an electric rod inserted in his spine who travels forward in time to save the world from cyber punk vampires. Mad, funny and thoroughly entertaining this is quite a rarity and is worth a watch for Tsukamoto enthusiasts who will recognise elements of Tetsuo.

This is a great set containing the director's earliest work available on DVD in this country. Extras include original theatrical trailers plus an exclusive interview with the director.

I have long wished for this double release and now I have it in all its body shock/metal mutation horror. Taguchi is/was a major talent. Yes, Tetsuo 2 is almost a remake of the first movie, but his visual inventiveness is unparalleled - as the posters said, it is David Lynch meets David Cronenburg and encompasses the best of both. The stop frame animations must have taken so much time and effort to perfect but the world he creates, in stark industrial Black and white, is superbly evocative of the dystopian eighties. He has clearly influenced the makers of Tokyo Gore Police and Ichi The Killer but this is the template. A unique masterpiece. TETSUOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I've yet to open and view this format of the film. I've watched the trilogy on dvd. The cover art alone is the reason for my purchase.