Shinya Tsukamoto
Tetsuo II: Body Hammer

It had to happen.

It had to happen that in the Land of the Rising Sun, someone, among short films and medium-length films, would set out to create that cross between science fiction, action, and horror that is "Tetsuo: The Iron Man", shocking and triumphing at the Rome FantaFestival, precisely in 1989, the year the film was released.

But it also had to happen that the author of such work would eventually go back. And returning to tackle the Cronenbergian contrast between man and machine is certainly not something everyone does, especially in the film industry.

In fact, for Shinya Tsukamoto, it was fine this way. It was a good idea, after the "Hiruko The Goblin" experiment in 1992, to move from any neighborhood to the heart of the city, from black and white to color. And that's how "Tetsuo II: Body Hammer" was born.

Tomoo Taniguchi (Tomorowo Taguchi) returns, ready to fight against a gang of crazies led by the ambiguous Yatsu (Shinya Tsukamoto), willing to do anything to drive him insane, first kidnapping his son and then his wife. The consequences will be inevitable and devastating.

From the very first viewing of the film, you can feel the changes made by the director. The schizophrenic and unstoppable dichotomy of flesh and metal from the first chapter is contrasted by the fury of a sort of modern-day incredible Hulk with post-industrial features, a true "flesh hammer" nestled in the body of poor Taniguchi, thirsty for revenge for all the pains suffered, amidst Munchian screams, muffled noises, disturbing childhood memories, and much, much suffering, with a monochromatic blue atmosphere prevailing throughout the film, perhaps suited to represent the veil of darkness and pain on the family's face.

The resulting mix is thoroughly enjoyable, but there's an underlying question: what makes this sequel inferior to the first "Tetsuo"?

Perhaps the addition of an actual plot. Maybe it was this particular aspect that detracted a bit from the sparkle of what was Tetsuo's true soul: the delirium, the madness, in a never-ending, path with no escape from the metal virus. Here, the delirium remains, but the way out is present, in front of a Tokyo that will unknowingly end up in ruins.

Yet, this little flaw is not a real drawback for someone like Tsukamoto. On the contrary, this man has managed to surprise once again.

Because that's his intent, always. To amaze, as well as to disturb. His style is disturbing. His films are disturbing. Yet enjoyable at the same time. And "Tetsuo II: Body Hammer" is no exception.

Those who don't love this genre, stay away, if you don't have the stomach for certain visions, or still give this film a chance, just like its predecessor (if you haven't seen it), being aware of what your eyes will witness.

"What silence..."

A silence not so lasting, destined to turn into chaos. Tremble, the monster has returned, and judging by recent news about a likely "Tetsuo 3" in post-production, shot in New York with the help of Quentin Tarantino, it probably won't go away so easily.

The world has been warned.