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Considering the link between spirit and body has been one of the main themes in his work, perhaps it was only a matter of time before the Japanese director would explore the world of sports. While “Tetsuo II: The Body Hammer” already dealt with the body being altered through outside forces, in this case post-industrial culture and modernity’s obsession with physical optimization, Tsukamoto’s next project would go in a different direction. However, keen observers will quickly notice many similarities between this film and “Tokyo Fist” which may not only serve as an extension of these issues, but also as a visual allegory for the fragility of our bodies, and their connection to our spirit.

Tokyo Fist is screening at Five Flavours

Another interesting parallel, which, for example, author Tom Mes points out, is how the story of “Tokyo Fist” mirrors its director’s biography too. Even though Shinya...

If you are a film fan and have been following this homepage, you are undoubtedly familiar with the works of Japanese auteur Shinya Tsukamoto. While it draws from several inspirations such as the Punk movement or even the works of classic painters, Tsukamoto never fails to be unique, even in his works which rarely ever are mentioned such as the “Nightmare Detective”-series or “Kotoko“. The director himself has often referred to his features as experiences which often make the viewer feel uncomfortable and/or disgusted. Whether you like his body of work or not, his films leave a lasting impression on the viewer and we are going to take a look at some of the elements that make it unique while also hopefully drawing attention to his some of his major works and those which sometimes fall under the radar.

False Idols and heroes

If there is one thing...

Having run for over twenty years, the UK’s largest festival of Japanese cinema, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP24), returns with its biggest showcase ever for 2024.

Memories play a powerful role in the mind. Shaped fluidly by individuals or time, they have been a source of inspiration for many filmmakers, fuelling their creativity to craft colourful stories. Under the theme ‘Unforgettable: Memories, Times and Reflections in Japanese Cinema’ the JFTFP24 delves into Japanese cinema to explore how memories are employed in the cinematic voices of Japanese filmmakers, from films where memories are a focal point to works where they play a subliminal role in driving or affecting people’s minds and behaviour. With an incredibly diverse range of films all based on memories, time, and reflections, this year’s programme is set to provide UK audiences with memorable stories and unforgettable moments.

Under this theme the packed programme...

Shinya Tsukamoto has always been, to many, a man hidden behind the scenes. When thinking of experimentation within the Japanese pulp titles from the 90s and 2000s, it is likely that a figure such as Takashi Miike or Kinji Fukusaku would come to mind for the average viewer, and Shinya Tsukamoto might simply be referred to as “the guy who made Tetsuo: The Iron Man.” Yet as time goes on, Tsukamoto is slowly becoming more respected and recognized as a pioneer in the 90s and 2000s Japanese experimental pulp genre: A title which he certainly deserves. And so, now feels like a more-than-appropriate time to take a look at Tsukamoto's most thought-inspiring (yet highly-overlooked) masterpieces. This list will look at Tsukamoto's various overlooked contributions to the Japanese avant-garde film industry, from the beginning of his career to the current moment.

1. The Adventures of Denchu-Kozo (1987)

Many might be under the impression...

Boxing has always been a very cinematic sport, with the its overall rules and the head-to-head mentality providing material for both captivating scripts and impressive visuals. Asian cinema has also been dealing with the concept, even if sporadically, but recently, there has been a surge of titles revolving around boxing, as we are still waiting for Brillante Mendoza’s “Gensan Punch”, which the protagonist, Shogen, having described the shooting as a once in a lifetime experience.

Among these titles, we picked 15 we think are among the most captivating to watch, as always with a focus on diversity in country of origin, filmmaker and style, although Japan has taken the lion’s share of entries in this list. The list is in chronological order.

1. Knockout

Violent, funny, dramatic and quirky are few of the contradictory words that can describe both “Knockout” and Hidekazu Akai, who plays the protagonist here, Eiji. As...

We have an eclectic array of home media offerings coming out this week, led by the latest from Neil Marshall, The Reckoning. Shadow in the Cloud, featuring Chloë Grace Moretz, is also headed to Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, and if you missed the previous release of the Shinya Tsukamoto set from Arrow, they are releasing a standard Special Edition version of Solid Metal Nightmares as well.

Other Blu and DVD releases making their debut on April 6th include Doors, Sleepless, Dawn of the Beast, Lurking in the Woods, and Killer Karaoke.

The Reckoning

After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil...

A new take on Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher," Patrick Picard's The Bloodhound is one of the January releases on Arrow Video's streaming service ahead of its Blu-ray release on March 23rd, and we've been provided with an exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers.

You can watch a disturbing dream come to life in our exclusive clip below, as well as details on Arrow's January lineup:

Press Release: London, UK - Arrow Video is excited to announce the January 2021 lineup of their new subscription-based Arrow platform, available now in the US and Canada, coming soon to the UK. Building on the success of the Arrow Video Channel and expanding its availability across multiple devices and countries, Arrow boasts a selection of cult classics, hidden gems and iconic horror films, all curated by the Arrow team.

The lineup begins with...

Shinya Tsukamoto's Vital and A Snake of June are playing on Mubi in the United States in the double bill The Human Extremes of Shinya Tsukamoto.Top: A Snake of June. Above: Vital. Shinya Tsukamoto has explored the full spectrum of human darkness over his four decades of filmmaking, including the raw nihilism of 1989’s Tetsuo: Iron Man, the desperate grief of 1998’s Bullet Ballet, and the paralyzing pacifism of 2018’s Killing, just to name a few select examples. And yet the director is usually only associated with the violence and surrealism of the earlier films, particularly edgelord employee pick Tetsuo. What’s often overlooked by fans is that these earlier films stem from the same fascinations foregrounded in his later, more restrained works like Killing (2018) and Fires on the Plain (2014): abject corporeality amid environments molding us as much as we exist in them, and ontological explorations of breaking through those constraints.

Arrow Video is excited to announce the July slate of titles on their subscription-based Arrow Video Channel, including acclaimed undead comedy Zombie for Sale and Gamera: The Complete Collection, all twelve films starring mankind’s greatest defender: a fire-breathing mutant turtle.

An infectiously funny slice of modern Korean cinema where Train to Busan, The Quiet Family and Warm Bodies collide to create Zombie for Sale, a memorable rom-zom-com from debut director Lee Min-jae. For the first time ever, fans can trace the decades-long evolution of Gamera, from the “friend of all children” in his more light-hearted earlier films, to the Guardian of the Universe in the groundbreaking 1990s reboot series, often hailed as three of the best kaiju films ever made.

Zombie for Sale and Gamera: The Complete Collection will be available July 1st on the Arrow Video Channel in the Us and the UK. Additional new titles available July 1st include Creepshow 2,...

We're back with another edition of Horror Highlights! In today's installment, watch the short film The Mother of Beauty, check out the new red band trailer for Becky, and find out what's coming to the Arrow Video Channel:

The Mother Of Beauty Short Film: "In ‘The Mother of Beauty’ a single mother-to-be lives in isolation on the edge of the wilderness. She makes a living through her work with vulture culture: using the remains of dead animals to create art and memorialize the lives that once were. As she attempts to overcome the struggles of parenthood, the forces of life and death pull her in opposing directions, and she must find a way to reconcile the two before they tear her apart."

Director: Nick Meunier

Producer: J.W. Cole

Co-producer & Writer: Lonnie Nadler

Starring: Tristan Risk

Director Of Photography: Steven Hayes

Production Design: Rob Warren

Editor: Adam MacKay

---------

Becky Red Band Trailer: "Spunky and rebellious,...

After he had explored death and the afterlife in his 2004 feature “Vital”, Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto would continue this thematic journey two years later with “Nightmare Detective” as well as its sequel in 2008. In an interview with Screen Anarchy, explains how he thought the concept of the “human body and the city, which had started with the first “Tetsuo”-film, was finished, but then he found himself with more ideas on the issue. The two films, which he had originally planned as a trilogy, may be regarded as Tsukamoto’s closest approach to mainstream cinema, especially since they contain elements reminiscent of J-horror, but in the end they feel more like additions or, as the director says, afterthoughts to the themes he had explained before.

In the first feature, a series of gruesome incidents has plagued the streets of Tokyo with the victims found viciously stabbed, seemingly self-inflicted,...

“I’m still allowed to exist.”

Although most of his films have been proven to be exhausting and challenging experiences, the nature of the subject Shinya Tsukamoto tackles in “Kotoko” may just be the most difficult. Since his body of work, especially after “Tokyo Fist”, explores the link between body and spirit, perhaps “Kotoko” can be regarded as the natural result of these ideas in Tsukamoto’s films. Inspired by the songs and lyrics of Japanese singer Cocco, the director had planned to make a film with her for quite some time. After collaborating with her for the music video to her song “Cocco uta no o sanpo” and many interviews with her, he eventually wanted to explore more of the world the singer deals with in her songs.

Kotoko (Cocco) is a young woman living in Tokyo. In a small apartment, she takes care of her son and tries...

“You cannot beat concrete.”

Considering the link between spirit and body has been one of the main themes in his work, perhaps it was only a matter of time before the Japanese director would explore the world of sports. While “Tetsuo II: The Body Hammer” already dealt with the body being altered through outside forces, in this case post-industrial culture and modernity’s obsession with physical optimization, Tsukamoto’s next project would go in a different direction. However, keen observers will quickly notice many similarities between this film and “Tokyo Fist” which may not only serve as an extension of these issues, but also as a visual allegory for the fragility of our bodies, and their connection to our spirit.

“Tokyo Fist” is screening at Nippon Connection

Another interesting parallel, which, for example, author Tom Mes points out, is how the story of “Tokyo Fist” mirrors its director’s biography too.

‘Tetsuo’ was originally released in 1989.

Tokyo-based studio Nikkatsu Corporation has struck a deal with Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto to handle international sales on nine of his cult library titles, including Tetsuo: The Iron Man, originally released in 1989.

One of the most famous examples of Japanese cyberpunk, the black-and-white sci-fi horror catapulted Tsukamoto into cult stardom both in Japan and internationally. Nikkatsu has also picked up the film’s sequel, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992), which revisited the same theme of a man being slowly transformed into a metal weapon, but was made with a bigger budget and shot in colour.

Nikkatsu...

Winner of the Best New Director prize at the Locarno Film Festival, and one of the greatest recent Japanese films, alongside “Hime-Anole“, “Destruction Babies” is a combination of Miike’s “Izo”, Tsukamoto’s “Tokyo Fist” and Toyoda’s “Pornostar“.

The film starts in Mitsuhama, a small port in the west of Ehime prefecture where two brothers are living, abandoned by their parents. The younger is named Shota and seems like a regular high-school boy, and the second is Taira, a delinquent who is introduced through a fight with the local gang, he against half a dozen that is. Almost immediately after the fight, and a little before the mikoshi (portable shrine) festival, Taira leaves and embarks on a trip of blind violence through the streets of the city, where he picks fights with anyone that comes across his way, including the members of the local gang who run a hostess club.

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Want a quality action film, but you only have an hour and a half? Step this way...

Looking back over the genre, action films definitely haven’t suffered from the trend to make everything longer. They’ve always been pretty long, regularly clocking in at over two hours. Perhaps because of all the slo-mo? But while the sweet spot for action classics seems to be the 100-110 minute mark, there are those that have cut the genre right down to basics, and succeeded all the more for it.

Below is my pick of 25 great action films 90 minutes or under. Even more so than other genres, action crosses many other films - picking a pure ‘action’ flick is all but impossible. So below I’ve chosen films that retain action sequences as their main narrative device, and keep the action at the heart of the movie, rather than as a extra.

A bit of a spoiler alert up front, A Snake of June is my favorite Tsukamoto Shinya film. While I haven't seen all of them just yet, of the eight or so that I've managed to ingest, A Snake of June most matches what I want from my abstract cinema. I adore the first two Tetsuo films, I adore Marebito, I adore Tokyo Fist and Bullet Ballet, but A Snake of June scratches all the right places in my mind. For that reason alone, Third Window Films deserves kudos from me in their heroic work with the films of Japan's cyberpunk legend, Tsukamoto Shinya. One of the things about being a writer at the world's greatest source for international film news is that often we...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

The 2015 Sydney Film Festival has announced the jury in charge of judging the 12 titles in the Official Competition, which "recognises courageous, audacious and cutting-edge film." The winner will take home the Sydney Film Prize and A$60,000 cash.This year's jury will be headed by Australian film producer Liz Watts (Animal Kingdom, Home Song Stories, Jewboy). The jury members include Thai filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang (6ixtynin9, Last Life In The Universe), Japanese producer Aihara Hiromi (Tetsuo II, Tokyo Fist, Last Life in the Universe, Invisible Waves), Executive Director of the Austrian Film Commission Martin Schweighofer and Australian screenwriter Andrew Bovell (Strictly Ballroom, Lantana, A Most Wanted Man). This year's Official Competition titles include: • Arabian Nights (Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland)• Black Souls (Italy)• The Daughter (Australia) • Me And...

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Director Tsukamoto Shinya garnered a cult following in 1989 following the release of his cyberpunk classic, Tetsuo the Iron Man. The filmmaker has subsequently released two sequels to his breakthrough hit while expressing considerable talent in a range of genres, earning acclaim for the likes of Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet and A Snake of June. Not limiting himself to directing Tsukamoto frequently stars in his own work, as well as appearing in films from some of Japan's leading contemporary artists, including roles in Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer and Takashi Shimizu's Marebito. Fires On The Plain is the latest film from the director, a grueling look at the final desperate days of the soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army stationed in the Philippines during...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

For the second time this year, my festival coverage is interrupted by an uncomfortable abscess on my tail-bone. It is not a particularly serious condition but it is very painful, in particular when I sit down. The only position that is remotely comfortable is lying on my stomach, which is not very conducive to the festival experience. I was speaking with my friend about it, and they told me “when the body is sick, sometimes it’s trying to communicate something to you”. I guess that means my body would rather I be the subject of a David Cronenberg body horror than watch one. Luckily people have been helpful and supportive and I still have access to a number of films, I’m just a little more sluggish than normal. Instead of fitting in my writing between screenings and after late nights of partying, I’m writing between doctor’s visits and periods of recovery.

One of the most talked-about Japanese cult films of all time makes its way onto blu-ray for the first time Ever with a brand new high definition transfer supervised by Shinya Tsukamoto!

Tokyo Fist is an action, drama, thriller film from 1995 by Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto. Starting November 25th, Third Window Films will bring you Tokyo Fist on Blu-Ray and remastered DVD with a brand new restoration from the original negatives done by Tsukamoto himself, cardboard slipcase with new illustrated design, a new exclusive interview with the director, clip from original concert and new UK trailer and original theatrical trailer. Besides directing Tokyo Fist, Shinya Tsukamoto also starred in it portraying an insurance salesman Tsuda Yoshiharu.

Synopsis

Tsuda Yoshiharu is an insurance salesman, an archetypal Japanese salary man leading a dull life with his fiancée Hizuru. She is polite and compliant, an ideal Japanese wife. But once Tsuda’s childhood friend Kojima enters their lives,...

We've already brought you news of Third Window Films upcoming Blu-ray release of Tokyo Fist, but in case you missed it, click here. Well it seems they're at it again. For the first time ever on Blu-ray and remastered DVD, Third Window Films are releasing Shinya Tsukamoto's Bullet Ballet with a brand new restoration from the original negatives done by Tsukamoto himself. You can buy a copy on November 25th on Blu-ray and DVD, and if you order it from the store below you'll be helping to support future Third Window Films productions. Everyone's a winner... Synopsis: Once again Tsukamoto steps out from behind the camera and stars as Tsuda, an archetypal Japanese salaryman. He’s married to polite and compliant Hizuru (Kaori Fujii), the dictionary definition of an ideal Japanese wife. Their life is happy, at least on the surface, at least until Kojima (played by Tsukamoto’s own real life brother,...

Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 24 Oct 2013 - 06:46

Another 25 unsung greats come under the spotlight, as we provide our pick of the underappreciated films of 1995...

The year covered in this week's underrated movie rundown was significant for a number of reasons. It was the year that saw the release of Toy Story - the groundbreaking movie that would cement Pixar's reputation as an animation studio, and set the tempo for CG family movies for the next 18 years and counting. It was the year that saw James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan for the first time) emerge for GoldenEye after a six-year break. It was also the year of Michael Mann's Heat, Dogme 95, and the moment where Terry Gilliam scored a much-deserved hit with 12 Monkeys.

As ever, we're focusing on a few of the lesser-known films from this particular year, and we've had to think carefully about what's made the cut and what hasn't.

Cult classic Tokyo Fist (1995) has recently been remastered by its director Tsukamoto Shinya, and the newly restored high definition version will have its World Premiere on October 12 at the Sci-Fi London Oktoberfest. It will be part of a double-bill along with the restored version of Tsukamoto's Tetsuo: The Iron Man. Following the big screen premiere, the film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on November 25. Businessman Tsuda runs into a childhood friend Tajuki on the subway and learns that Tajuki is working as a semi-professional boxer. In time, Tsuda begins to suspect that his 'old friend' maybe having an affair with his fiancé, Hizuru.After an altercation that leaves him badly hurt, Tsuda begins training rigorously to get his revenge, leading...

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Third Window Films is set to release Tokyo Fist, Shin'ya Tsukamoto's (Tetsuo) gut-punching drama from 1995. Which means we can look forward to a strangely surreal boxing movie that doesn't shy away from tough love. Body horror is back in business then, and you can check out the trailer for yourself at the link below. Tokyo Fist will be released on Blu-Ray in the UK on 25 November 2013. Synopsis: A businessman, Tsuda, runs into a childhood friend, Tajuki, on the subway. Tajuki is working as a semi-professional boxer. Tsuda soon begins to suspect that Tajuki might be having an affair with his fiancé, Hizuru. After an altercation, Tsuda begins training rigorously himself, leading to an extremely bloody, violent confrontation.

Tiff’s Midnight Madness program turned 25 this year, and for two and half decades, the hardworking programers have gathered some of the strangest, most terrifying, wild, intriguing and downright entertaining films from around the world. From dark comedies to Japanese gore-fests and indie horror gems, the Midnight Madness program hasn’t lost its edge as one the leading showcases of genre cinema. In its 25-year history, Midnight Madness has introduced adventurous late-night moviegoers to such cult faves as Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. But what separates Midnight Madness from, say, Montreal’s three and half week long genre festival Fantasia, is that Tiff selects only ten films to make the cut. In other words, these programmers don’t mess around. Last week I decided that I would post reviews of my personal favourite films that screened in past years. And just like the Tiff programmers,...

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto. Review: Adam Wing. Mental instability takes a deadly turn in Shinya Tsukamoto’s Kotoko, the only Japanese film to win the Best Film Award in the Orrizonti of the Venice Film Festival. Tsukamoto is best known around the world for his first two entries in the Tetsuo series, with Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet and A Snake of June cementing his name in cult legend. His latest surreal nightmare is available in the UK this month courtesy of Third Window Films. Cocco – a well-known Japanese folk singer – performed the closing theme tune for his 2004 film, Vital. She takes centre stage in Kotoko, playing a young single mother with unrestrained reality issues. Cocco also provides the soundtrack for Kotoko, a move that might be considered self-indulgent by some, especially when you consider the amount of time she spends singing and dancing on screen. Tsukamoto’s latest comes with a fascinating concept,...

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto. Review: Adam Wing. For the first time in the world ever, two of the most popular Japanese cult films are available in glorious high definition. Director Shinya Tsukamoto (Snake of June, Tokyo Fist) supervised the transfer of this highly anticipated blu-ray release, featuring the first two films of the series and a 45-minute movie Tsukamoto made in his student days, called ‘The Adventures of Electric Rod Boy’. 1989’s Tetsuo: The Iron Man was shot in black in white, followed by a colour sequel three years later. Essentially an extended remake with a bigger budget, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer didn’t perform quite as well as the original back home, but both films have built a cult following around the world. It’s hardly surprisingly either. Tsukamoto’s surreal nightmares have been compared to the works of David Lynch and David Cronenberg, with the influence of both directors oozing from every frame.

After pounding out a final 4 films on Thursday I wrapped up my 17th year at Tiff.  I was a young lad of 20 my first time here.  I think 1995 was the first year it was called Tiff.  It used to be something ridiculous and pretentious like 'The Festival of Festivals!'. Many of the films were at the old Uptown Theatre.  I loved, loved, loved that balcony.  Four Rooms had it's premiere in 1995 and still remains the one film I didn't get into when I used to rely on the rush lines.  I did see Leaving Las Vegas and To Die For that year though as well as my introduction to Midnight Madness with Tokyo Fist.  It was also the year that 'The Gasman' was born. Big year!  Moving on... The first movie I saw was a little ditty from the U.K. called Sightseers.  Directed by Ben Wheatly (Kill List...

In advance of Shinya Tsukamoto's just announced appearance at the Edinburgh Film Festival with his recent critical hit, Kotoko, Third Window have cut a brand new trailer for the film and it looks fucking intense. The film screens in Edinburgh on 25 & 26th June as part of a Shinya Tsukamoto Spotlight section at the festival, along with Tetsuo and Tetsuo II: Body Hammer.  Here's Third Window's synopsis and great new trailer.Shinya Tsukamoto burst onto the international film scene with Tetsuo the Iron Man ('89), his first feature film that greatly influenced many creators around the world. He followed up with Tokyo Fist ('95), Bullet Ballet ('98) and then, A Snake of June ('02). That film which depicted life in an urban community and the...

Yeah, yeah. You got me again. This one isn’t necessarily forgotten, though it is grossly unseen by a large selection of the American population. “Tetuo: The Bullet Man” director Shinya Tsukamoto’s emotionally damaged 1995 masterpiece “Tokyo Fist” is, simply put, a brilliantly executed experimental examination of emotional extremes filtered through the bone-crunching, no-holds-barred Japanese boxing industry. On the surface, Tsukamoto’s tale of love, loneliness, and loose teeth appears to be a visually overwrought action extravaganza, a hopeless salaryman’s take on Scorsese’s “Raging Bull”. Beneath the bleeding bruises and pulsating lumps, however, lies one seriously warped psychological nightmare teeming with over-the-top performances, numerous nervous breakdowns, and some of the craziest violence ever to grace my poor little television screen. Every single character deals with their respective predicament in the most extreme fashion possible; their overblown knee-jerk reactions generally involve crude, unnecessary masochism, culminating in an appropriately foul...

The Toronto Film Festival is a tricky beast when it comes to picking what films to see. There is always the problem that a few movies may screen at the same time, leaving you with the difficult choice of choosing one over the other. This will only be my third year heading to the fest, but I have quickly come to learn a few tricks. The first and most important thing to keep in mind is release dates. There is no sense in purchasing a ticket for a film that will have a wide theatrical release soon after the fest begins if it means missing out on another movie which you may not have the chance to see again for a very long time. A prime example from this year’s line-up is Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, which gets released theatrically the very same week. With that being said,...

You could almost say if flies into the face of convention; then sticks a bunch of wires and pipes into it. Usually, the trend goes as follows: Manga, Anime, Movie. It was simple. It was to be expected. It was the norm. But nothing is really normal about Shinya Tsukamoto's work now, is it? 

So after three Tetsuo films Tsukamoto is literally going back to the drawing board and with manga artist Akira Fukaya a Tetsuo manga will be serialized in the magazine Monthly Comic Beam.

Over the years, Tsukamoto has received offers for a comic adaptation of Tetsuo both domestically and internationally, but he has adamantly refused them all. Now, a little more than 20 years after the first film, Tsukamoto has given his approval to Fukaya. Fukaya has in fact worked closely with "Tetsuo" before, having served as a special make-up and costume artist for "Tetsuo II: The...

I’ve been a Shinya Tsukamoto fan for several years now, thanks in part to the director’s iconic film “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” and his ultra-violent boxing opus “Tokyo Fist.” These classics, in addition to his twisted short film “Haze,” drastically reshaped my cinematic tastes, transforming yours truly into an Asian film junkie who prefers the strange and esoteric to the simple and mainstream. The only other director that has had this much influence over me is Takashi Miike, another Japanese filmmaker who dabbles in the strange and unusual. However, over the past few years, Tsukamoto has focused his attention on more commercial fare — “Nightmare Detective” immediately springs to mind — making his return to the gleefully demented Tetsuo universe all the more surprising. Filmed in English, “Tetsuo: The Bullet Man” marks the third entry in Tsukamoto’s cult franchise, and judging from the trailer, promises to be just...

Excuse me while I jab a magnificent fist into the air and strike this breathtaking pose. Indulge me, because being away for the past two weeks covering Sfiff had prevented me from noticing awesome news a-happenin'. And yes, this is awesome news indeed.

On Wednesday, Screen Daily broke the news that a third installment of Tetsuo: The Iron Man is in the works, currently called Tetsuo Project. Not only that, but apparently it's already finished shooting, and a cut is being rushed to Cannes for buyers. Yeah, like the festival wasn't already mindblowing enough. Dammit.

The pic above is a promotional image for the film, which shows its star Eric Bossick in his half-machine make-up.

I began my love affair with Shinya Tsukamoto in high school, when I first discovered the original Tetsuo on video. It was a mesmerizing work of art for the younger and more reckless me: there it was,...

• Nightmare Detective (Japan, 2007)Director: Shinya TsukamotoTo say that I was excited to finally witness a film by the director of Tetsuo the Iron Man and Tokyo Fist on the big screen is an understatement, and Shinya Tsukamoto didn’t dissapoint.A homicidal nut (played capably by Tsukamoto himself) able to enter the dreams of his victims in order to kill them off, falls into a metaphysical game of chicken with a ‘nightmare detective’ who possesses the same abilities and maybe even some uncomfortable affinities...Probably the most innovative director with a limited budget working in film, Tsukamoto’s strength lies in the way he fearlessly explores the medium of filmmaking and never panders to his audience. Nightmare Detective is somewhat more mainstream than Tsukamoto’s other films, but there’s lots of balls-out audio crunching mayhem to keep you awake and out of the reach of the film’s antagonist.

...