Rent Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

3.5 of 5 from 104 ratings
1h 5min
Rent Tetsuo: The Iron Man (aka Tetsuo) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
A strange man known only as the "metal fetishist", who seems to have an insane compulsion to stick scrap metal into his body, is hit and possibly killed by a Japanese "salaryman", out for a drive with his girlfriend. The salaryman then notices that he is being slowly overtaken by some kind of disease that is turning his body into scrap metal, and that his nemesis is not in fact dead but is somehow masterminding and guiding his rage and frustration-fueled transformation.
Actors:
, , , , ,
Directors:
Producers:
Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Writers:
Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Aka:
Tetsuo
Studio:
Tartan
Genres:
Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Countries:
Japan
BBFC:
Release Date:
22/04/2002
Run Time:
65 minutes
Languages:
Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 0 (All)
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
Bonus:
  • Star and Director Filmographies
  • Scene Selection
  • Original Trailers
  • Promotional Gallery
  • Justin Bowyer Film Notes
  • Asia Extreme Trailer Reel

More like Tetsuo: The Iron Man

Found in these customers lists

Reviews (2) of Tetsuo: The Iron Man

Like No Other - Tetsuo: The Iron Man review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
15/03/2009

This low budget Japan indie kicked up a right storm upon its release. Amazingly energetic, it took no prisoners with its insane pace and inventive use of metal. Only Japan would even consider such a fusion of metal and human to horrific effect. Not since Videodrome had the human form been twisted in such a way to provide entertainment. Shot cheaply, the grainy B&W handheld approach is an ideal match for the Japanese industrial setting with a metallic soundtrack. Much better than the full blown sequel that followed.

3 out of 4 members found this review helpful.

Eraserhead and Videodrome, Welded Together in a Tokyo Scrapyard - Tetsuo: The Iron Man review by griggs

Spoiler Alert
15/05/2025


Tetsuo: The Iron Man is like being hit over the head with a scrap metal pipe—repeatedly—for 67 minutes. A Lynchian migraine of a movie, it’s gritty, grotesque, and filmed like someone strapped a 16mm camera to a blender. There’s barely a plot, just chaos: body horror turned up to 11, all sweat, wires and stop-motion squirming. Think Videodrome meets Eraserhead, spliced together with rusted bolts and psycho-sexual angst.


Shot in a Tokyo flat, it’s pure DIY punk—Tsukamoto doesn’t so much direct as detonate. It’s messy, angry, and kind of brilliant. Flesh merges with machine, guilt oozes from pores, and the soundtrack drills straight into your skull. The whole thing feels like a violent panic attack about identity in a mechanised world.


Not for the faint-hearted, and definitely not for everyone—but if you like your horror transgressive, experimental, and absolutely barking, this little metal monster is worth a watch.


1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Unlimited films sent to your door, starting at £23.99 a month.