Tetsuo: The Bullet Man: Limited Edition – Unearthed Classics (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 2009
Director: Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Writers: Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Hisakatsu Kuroki
Cast: Eric Bossick, Akiko Monō, Yuko Nakamura, Stephen Sarrazin, Shinya Tsukamoto

Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 71 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English/Japanese
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Anthony is a bland and cautious American office worker living in Tokyo with nothing exceptional about him. Or so he thinks. When his young son is killed, Anthony begins a violent and bizarre metamorphosis, his flesh transforming into metal, his body expressing his repressed rage and lust for revenge. Anthony is becoming the weapon that will destroy the man who killed his son and, if his rage cannot be contained, the entire city in the process." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Tetsuo: The Bullet Man comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.3 GB

Feature: 20.1 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and some dialogue in Japanese. The track makes great use of ambient sounds and its score always sounds robust. That said, many times dialogue is much lower than the rest of the soundtrack. Included are removable English SDH and English subtitles for Japanese-only dialogue.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a promotional image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/posters), the original Japanese theatrical trailer (1 minute 57 seconds, DTS-HD 5.1 English with text in Japanese and removable English subtitles), the original US theatrical trailer (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Tetsuo: The Bullet Man—multi-material version (70 minutes 31 seconds, DTS-HD 5.1 English, no subtitles), an audio Commentary with actor Eric Bossick and Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes, and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing). The extra-titled Tetsuo: The Bullet Man—multi-material version is a making-of-the-film that contains storyboards and behind-the-scenes footage.

Summary:

Tetsuo: The Bullet Man is a standalone sequel to two earlier films directed by Shin'ya, Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Tetsuo II: Body Hammer. It is body horror and cyberpunk elements that link Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer, and Tetsuo: The Bullet Man, despite having no narrative continuity. Another element that links these three films is that they revolve around the protagonist whose rage after the death of their child transforms their bodies into weapons.

Tetsuo: The Bullet Man is a film that relies more on mood than conventional cinema storytelling; there is just enough exposition to move things forward. Image and sound are more important than what is said. The stylized visuals, which have a monochrome-like color scheme, perfectly fuse with the soundtracks' abrasive use of sounds. The film’s main theme was composed and performed by Nine Inch Nails. When it comes to moments of violence and ensuing carnage, Tetsuo: The Bullet Man does not disappoint. That said, having the cast predominantly speak in English is one area that some may find lacking. Ultimately, while Tetsuo: The Bullet Man is a step back from its predecessors, it is a film that Shin'ya Tsukamoto fans should thoroughly enjoy.

Unearthed Films gives Tetsuo: The Bullet Man a first-rate release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Gemini – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1999
Director: Shin’ya Tsukamoto
Writers: Shin’ya Tsukamoto, Rampo Edogawa
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryô, Yasutaka Tsutsui, Masako Motai, Renji Ishibashi, Akaji Maro, Tomorô Taguchi, Jun Murakami

Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Approximate running time: 83 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Set in Tokyo in 1910. Dr. Yukio Daitokuji (Masahiro Motoki), is a former military doctor who has taken over a successful medical practice from his father. He appears to be living a charmed life: he is respected in the local community and is married to the beautiful Rin (Ryo). His only problem is that she suffers from amnesia, and her past is unknown.

But soon his world begins to crumble. Both his parents die suddenly, killed by a bizarre, rag-wearing stranger. Yukio’s relationship with his wife worsens after he refuses to cure the inhabitants of a nearby slum. Then one day he comes face to face with the mysterious killer and a shocking and deadly secret is revealed." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “HD transfer from film negative”. 

Gemini comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22 GB

Feature: 17.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, details look crisp, black levels look strong throughout, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced and range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this include the Mondo Macabro Promo Reel, theatrical trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette tilted Behind The Scenes Footage (20 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Make-up Demonstration (6 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled Venice Film Festival 1999 Premier (16 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles) and an archival featurette titled The Making of Gemini (17 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Gemini was directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, a filmmaker who writes most of his films' screenplays from original ideas. Notable films directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto include Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet, and A Snake of June. Gemini’s screenplay was adapted from Rampo Edogawa’s short story Sôseiji: Aru Shikeishû ga Kyôkaishi ni Uchiaketa Hanashi. Other Rampo Edogawa film adaptations include Black Lizard, Blind Beast, Horrors of Malformed Men, and The Watcher in the Attic.

Though Gemini is an adaptation, set in the late Meiji era, a world polar opposite to the industrial settings Shin’ya Tsukamoto’s films are known for, the result is a film that has most of the elements that have become synonymous with the films of Shin’ya Tsukamoto. Most notably, a love triangle where two men compete for the same woman.

From its opening moments, Gemini sets an uneasy tone that builds to a fever pitch by the time Gemini’s moment of truth arrives. The premise is superbly realized, there are an ample number of well-executed twists, and the narrative does a great job of foreshadowing the protagonist’s fate.

The cast is excellent, especially Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People of China) in the dual role of a doctor named Yukio Daitokuji and his doppelganger. He delivers a solid performance that perfectly captures his character's state of mind.

Every inch of every frame has been meticulously composed for the greatest effect. Also, the use of colors plays a strong role in the story at hand. Of course, there’s an abundance of visually arresting moments that are undeniably Shin’ya Tsukamoto. Ultimately, Gemini is an extraordinary film about identity crisis that’s reminiscent of the films of David Cronenberg.

Gemini gets a first-rate release Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an abundance of insightful extra content, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hiruko the Goblin – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1991
Director: Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Writers: Daijirô Morohoshi, Koji Tsutsumi, Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Cast: Kenji Sawada, Masaki Kudou, Hideo Murota, Naoto Takenaka, Megumi Ueno

Release Date: February 8th, 2022
Approximate running time: 89 Minutes 4 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Hieda (played by Kenji Sawada) is an eccentric archaeologist, disgraced among his peers for his theories on the supernatural. One day he receives a letter from his brother-in-law, Yabe, telling him of an ancient burial mound he has discovered in the grounds of the local high school, a discovery that might help prove Hieda’s theories to be true. When Hieda arrives at the school, which is now closed for summer vacation, he discovers that Yabe has gone missing, along with one of the school’s female pupils. Teaming up with Yabe’s son, Masao, Hieda searches for the ancient tomb, convinced that it might be the burial place of Hiruko – a fearsome demon from ancient legends." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the OCN".

Hiruko the Goblin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31 GB

Feature: 24.4 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent; color saturation, image clarity, and black levels look solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. This is a solid track; the dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include the Mondo Macabro’s Promo Reel, theatrical trailer (1 minute 43 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival SFX featurette titled Goblin Creation (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo), an archival interview with SFX director Takashi Oda (4 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival intro to the film by director Shin'ya Tsukamoto (2 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Shin'ya Tsukamoto (8 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a newly shot interview with Shin'ya Tsukamoto (27 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with Shin'ya Tsukamoto expert Tom Mes.

Summary:

Shin'ya Tsukamoto's first film that he directed with major financial backing was Hiruko the Goblin. And though Hiruko the Goblin is easily the most accessible film he’s directed, the result is a film that could have only been directed by Shin'ya Tsukamoto. Many elements that have become synonymous with Shin'ya Tsukamoto find their way into Hiruko the Goblin.

The narrative revolves around a boy whose dead classmates' faces appear on his back, a crazy janitor who does not like people snooping around the school, an archeologist who has insight about what’s going on, and a Goblin that beheads students and puts their heads on spider bodies.

Based solely on the premise, one would assume that Hiruko the Goblin is a horror film. When it is actually a melting pot of genres, that’s equal parts fantasy film and horror film, with some well-placed humor thrown in for good measure.

From its opening moments, it's clear that what lies within is going to be a wild ride. The premise and narrative are well-executed, and the finale provides a satisfying climax. Visually, there are many eerie moments, and when Hiruko attacks, the film uses a tracking shot that is reminiscent of a similar shot used in Evil Dead. Also, the score does a great job of setting the mood. Ultimately, Hiruko the Goblin is a highly entertaining film that fans of Japanese horror cinema are sure to enjoy.

Hiruko the Goblin gets an exceptional release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extra content, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer