Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 8, 2020

Note: The scores above are rough averages spread out over the entire set. See the individual reviews, linked below, for individual variances.

There are two names which American film fans may need either outright introductions to or at least reminders about when coming to Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto. The first name is that of Shinya Tsukamoto himself, a fascinating cult figure with a rather long and impressive filmography as a producer, director, actor, writer, editor, cinematographer, production designer and art director (one assumes if the IMDb had a tab for craft services contributions, he'd be listed there, too), but who is still kind of curiously unknown by the general public at large on this side of the pond. The other name that may come into play with regard to this handsome new set released for the North American market by Arrow is Third Window Films, a label that releases Blu-rays in the United Kingdom and which has in fact put out previous editions of several of the Tsukamoto films Arrow has included in this set. For that reason, fans or at least those interested in “comparison studies” are encouraged to visit our listings for the Third Window Films’ releases of Tetsuo: The Iron Man / Tetsuo II: Body Hammer, Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet, A Snake of June, and Kotoko, not just for Svet Atanasov’s thoughts about each of the films, but also to be able to do side by side looks at screenshots as well as to size up supplemental features on each release. (A sixth film offered in this set from Arrow, The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo, looks like it's included as a supplement on Third Windows' double feature offering the two Tetsuo films.) The Arrow set does at least offer ten films in one nicely aggregated and designed package which includes a rather beautiful hardback book, which may at least recommend the set to those trying to save a little shelf space, if nothing else.

For reviews of the ten films in this set, please click on the following links:

Tetsuo: The Iron Man Blu-ray review

Tetsuo II: Body Hammer Blu-ray review

The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo Blu-ray review

Tokyo Fist Blu-ray review

Bullet Ballet Blu-ray review

A Snake of June Blu-ray review

Vital Blu-ray review

Haze Blu-ray review

Kotoko Blu-ray review

Killing Blu-ray review

Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Because Arrow has aggregated this collection with at least two, and sometimes three, films to a disc, I have listed Supplements on each disc in each review of a film contained on that disc. Additionally, Arrow has packaged this in a handsome and sturdy chipboard slipbox which also includes a well done hardback book with several essays, including two each by Kat Ellinger and Jasper Sharp, stills, cast and crew listings, and pretty minimal technical data on the transfers. A folded mini-poster is also included.

Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This may be a set for a relatively small demographic, but for that demographic it's going to be a knockout. Arrow is offering a compelling if often disturbing collection of Tsukamoto films with generally solid technical merits and some very appealing supplements, all in another handsomely designed package. While my hunch is this is not a release for the general public due to some of its more provocative and outré elements, for Tsukamoto fans or the curious Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto comes Highly recommended.