Love Metal?

Now this is one very disturbing film. Tetsuo: The Iron Man is one of those must see but fear films. Noted Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto has created a cyberpunk futuristic parable of sexual fetish and machines. And, because it was one of his first films, it plays more like a film school experiment than a feature length film; which is a good thing!

Due to my love of Japanese film, I had to see this. I have had it in my collection for over a year and never got around to watching it. Now that I have, some of the mystical aura surrounding it has gone away. I did like the film, but more for the experimental quality rather than the shock factor. Essentially the film is about a couple that runs over a man and leaves him for dead. That man eventually seeks out the destruction of the couple as he becomes part man and machine. The main protagonist slowly transforms into a metallic beast as well (yes his penis becomes a drill). Ultimately the two merge (hmm…sounds sexual to me) and become one “ginormous” monster of twisted steel and sex appeal.

You know, this film did remind me of David Lynch but I think it is more of a reflection of Crash – both the film (directed by David Cronenberg) and the book (written by J.G. Ballard). The main story of Crash is the sexual fetish of car crashes. Yes you heard that right, getting off on the twisted carnage of hot bumper on bumper action. The sexual fetish aspect of Tetsuo has a very similar feel to Crash, but more graphic. I think perhaps that is because of the close connection this film has with manga. I also thought that the film also has more prominent sexual aspects such as homosexuality and even S&M (that girl is freaky!).

There is no way to truly capture the feel of this movie, it is just one of those few films you have to watch to experience. The plot is reveled as the film goes on, but you never get that straightforward telling, which is a plus for me. I also thought that the cinematography enhanced the cyberpunk feel, giving the screen a futuristic grimy quality.

This is a must see film for anyone interested in Japanese cinema or film studies in general because it does an excellent job at demonstrating the possibilities film provides. Yes it is grotesque at times and incomprehensible at others; but for a film that never attempts to be a blockbuster that is perfectly acceptable and what places this film above other similar films. I am still torn between really liking this film because of the connections with Japanese horror and cyberpunk, and hating it because it is not the type of film you feel comfortable watching. So see for yourself, but be warned: you’ll never look at a power drill the same way again.