Plot: What’s it about?
In an abandoned building in a rundown neighborhood, a man has slashed open an old wound on his leg, but not without reason. Once the wound is opened, he takes a length of cable and slides it inside his body, as if to become more mechanical. But he also notices the wound has become infected and infested, as maggots feast on his torn flesh. When he runs into the street, he is struck by a car and while he survives, his life and the life of the driver are changed forever. When he awakes the next morning, the driver has a metal resistor on his face, as if it has grown overnight. This startles him, but it soon bursts when he touches it. Then his subway ride takes an unusual turn when a woman turns into a robotic menace that seeks to demolish him. Now the driver himself begins to mutate in mechanical ways, thanks to the man he hit, who has cursed him. That means in order to escape this robotic nightmare, he must confront the man. But when the two do battle, will either survive and if so, will mankind be able to survive what follows?
Tartan’s Asia Extreme series has been a godsend to fans of Asian horror, with a dynamic line of eerie horror that had fans in seventh heaven. The series is a mixture of well known and lower profile titles, but to this point, no title has been as well known as Tetsuo: The Iron Man. A surreal blend of science fiction and horror, Tetsuo has become a cult classic, a film no fan of the bizarre can be without. Tetsuo is the kind of movie that is hard to put into words, even if you’ve seen the picture numerous times. The budget was obviously low, but more than proves the point that with creative drive, financial limitations can be neutralized. The low rent visuals and somewhat crude camerawork only adds to the film’s offbeat atmosphere. This movie has scenes so strange, you will tell your friends about them for years. The film is graphic in terms of violence and sexual content, including some of the most unusual sex scenes you’ll encounter. Tartan’s release has no extras, but offers superior audio & visual elements, which is what counts. So even if you have the previous Image version, this is the one to own and if you’ve never seen Tetsuo, there’s no time like the present.
Video: How does it look?
Tetsuo: The Iron Man is presented in full frame, as intended. If you’ve ever seen this movie on home video, then you know how bad most versions look. Even the previous DVD release was lackluster, just a recycled transfer from the laserdisc. But Tartan has ended that trend, as they’ve given us a brand new visual treatment that is sure to thrill fans to no end. The print looks much better, with less frequent debris and marks, though this was a low budget production, so keep that in mind. The black & white visuals benefit from less softness, as contrast is more sleek and detail is a little sharper. This is the kind of transfer that fans have wanted, so kudos to Tartan, as their hard work has paid off in spades here.
Audio: How does it sound?
As usual, Tartan has included brand new 5.1 soundtracks for this release, with both Dolby Digital and DTS options available. As you should know, this movie has one of the most harsh, even abrasive musical soundtracks you’ll ever hear. So with these new deluxe audio treatments, that music comes through more brash than ever, which really enhances the experience. The material isn’t really geared for extensive, dynamic surround presence, but there is much more life to be heard than I expected. And thankfully, the surround use is not forced, so the soundtrack has a natural sound. This disc also includes English subtitles, as well as the original mono soundtrack, to keep the purists satisfied.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
