THE ORIGINAL IRON MAN - TETSUO (1989) TURNS 35!!!

HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN (1989) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER (1992) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) TETSUO: THE BULLET MAN (2009) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) Winner of Best Film at the 1989 Fantafestival in Rome, Shinya Tsukamoto’s breakout 1989 feature Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a touchstone of cinematic cyberpunk, a relentlessly frenetic black-and-white 16mm assault on the senses and sensibilities, and a supercharged display of independent filmmaking. Written, directed, produced, edited, photographed, and art-directed by its auteur (who also created the impressive if rugged special effects), Tetsuo has drawn comparisons to the work of David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Jan Svankmajer, Ishiro Honda, and H.R. Giger, while remaining its own defiantly original beast. No catalog of descriptors can adequately communicate the fiery, almost violent energy that Tsukamoto brings to the screen. This is a genuine, “pure cinema” experience, one whose fairly straightforward if fanciful narrative is so deeply layered within its powerhouse visuals and incredible sound design (aided immensely by Chu Ishikawa’s industrial driving beat and bluesy torch songs) that it becomes secondary or even tertiary to the proceedings. Instead, Tetsuo is a movie of moments, with one visceral mind-blowing sequence giving way to the next, until the end credits roll “Game Over” and the viewer is left forever changed. The right film at the right time, Tetsuo enjoyed a successful festival run before exploding onto the Western world via home video where it quickly gained a reputation as the underground film to watch for a generation of geeks just discovering the wild world of Japanese anime, videogames, and V-cinema (with Takashi “Beat” Kitano and Takashi Miike also blazing the trail). Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Michelle Kisner, Grant Kuchan, Jennifer Olson) as they discuss this landmark film. Tetuso is a feature unlike any other, and for that reason alone deserves your time and attention. Love it or hate it, you won’t soon forget it. --------------------------------- MICHELLE KISNER is a film critic, freelance writer, and physical media advocate. She has contributed to several websites to include The Cultural Gutter and The Movie Sleuth and is also a member of the Michigan Movie Critics Guild. GRANT KUCHAN is a writer of pulp, wellness coach, and a real swell guy. He plays in any Jug Bands that let him. One day he’ll finish another novel, which will probably be available on Amazon, as well as at most Darktower Comics locations across the greater Chicagoland Area. The horror movie that still gives him nightmares is Matango. He saw it when he was six, and still doesn’t eat mushrooms. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! --------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!!