Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992) 

Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto

Starring Tomorowo Taguchi, Shinya Tsukamoto

Not so much a sequel but like Evil Dead 2, more a bigger budget rewrite/remake of the original. It expands by developing backgrounds and reasoning for the central characters from Tetsuo the Ironman. A history is built between the original man and the fetishist giving them backgrounds and family. At times the film comes across as a pop promo especially the scenes involving a skinhead gang, all-macho weight lifting and sweaty skin. The plot is revolved around the kidnapping and killing of the mans son, this instigates a trail that leads to the final confrontation.

A big difference is the use of a muted and drained colour palette, I must admit I preferred the black and white of the original and the far more fetishistic overview. It takes a while before we get into the Svankmajer style stop motion animation which thankfully, is retained from the previous film only then does it feel that you're watching a Tetsuo film.

Whereas the original had a highly sexual basis to its nature, the remake aims at the way man made structures are displacing nature. Apart from Tetsuo's first transition upon seeing his mother accidentally shot by his father during a sexual act, the broader look at the encroachment of concrete and metal on society leads to a finale of destruction within and of the concrete jungle.

Overall then a bold attempt at building on the original and one that many seem to prefer, given the choice though, Ill stick with the original, just the same as with the Evil Dead.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 18