Saw Tetsuo: The Iron Man, a low-budget, Japanese art/horror film about a man who hits a "metal fetishist" with his car. For the metal fetishist, this is bitter-sweet. On the one hand, he's upset because he's been injured, but on the other, how appropriate and perfect, that his life should end because of a giant, perfect engine bearing down on him. The title sequence is shown after this, with do-wop 50s music playing over close-ups of the car's grill and headlights.
The film continues with the haunted protagonist slowly being consumed by bits of scrap metal. The feel of the film is sinister and playful. Industrial landscapes and sounds evoke early David Lynch. The abundant body horror reminds me of a messier Cronenberg. In addition to these elements, the use of found props and stop-motion reminds me of Michel Gondry. A heady mixture!
As far as metaphorical meaning is concerned, the film could have something to say about industry vs nature (both in an environmental and human angst sort of sense) but mostly the film is full of aggressive montage, special effects, and wild sex scenes. The sex is frankly exploitative, btw. There are some gay subtexts, but only to the end of making the viewer uncomfortable.
It's a relatively short film, clocking in at 70 minutes or so. It hit hard and fast, opening with some truly uncomfortable scenes and progressing into a full-scale, globally apocalyptic climax. The subject matter feels fairly sinister but to my Western eyes, it seems too goofy to be threatening. It's less Saw and more Day of the Dead. At one point, a monster emerges from a woman's torso, holding a bouquet of flowers. How bizarre.
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