Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992)

Sequel to "Tetsuo" this time has the Iron Man transforming into cyberkinetic gun when a gang of vicious skinheads kidnap his son. When the skinheads capture him, they begin to experiment on... See full summary »

Director:

Shin'ya Tsukamoto

Writer:

Shin'ya Tsukamoto

Stars:

Tomorô Taguchi, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Nobu Kanaoka

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Tomorô Taguchi	...	Taniguchi Tomoo
Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	Yatsu (The Guy)
Nobu Kanaoka	...	Kana
Sujin Kim	...	Taniguchi's Father
Hideaki Tezuka	...	Big Skinhead
Tomoo Asada	...	Young Skinhead
Iwata	...	Taniguchi's Mother
Keinosuke Tomioka	...	Minori
Torauemon Utazawa	...	Mad Scientist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Min Tanaka

Storyline

Sequel to "Tetsuo" this time has the Iron Man transforming into cyberkinetic gun when a gang of vicious skinheads kidnap his son. When the skinheads capture him, they begin to experiment on him...speeding up the mutative process!

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | aquarium | rooftop | telephone conversation | experimental film | 

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bizarre violent images throughout

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tetsuo - Vasember 2.

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,550, 22 June 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,550, 22 June 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kaijyu Theater, Toshiba EMI

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: New Boundaries: World Cinema in Africa, Asia & Latin America (2011)

User Reviews

Arguably Better than the Original

Tetsuo II: Body Hammer is the second entry in the Tetsuo series and arguably an improvement over the first film. It has a more coherent plot, better special effects, and a better flow. Of the two, it was the more accessible film.

Body Hammer follows the struggle of a seemingly meek man after his son is kidnapped by a ruthless gang / cult. The cult is run by a mad scientist who seeks to combine man and machine. When the father is subjected to one of these experiments, all hell breaks loose.

Although surreal, Tetsuo II is a distinctly more conventional film than its predecessor, which came across as a grotesque student film. The sequel has a more typical sci-fi action plot even as it uses the bizarre animation and concepts that made the original a cult classic. This is actually a good thing, as it makes it easier to discern what the director is trying to get across.

The film also benefits from improved special effects and costumes. While the original relied on rather clunky stop motion animation, the effects in Body Hammer are far more convincing.

There are some issues with the film's plot, not the least of which being why the gang would grant super powers to someone whose son they had just kidnapped. Nevertheless, it is definitely a worthy follow-up to the original.