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EXTREME JAPANESE

The Dreamland presents a selection of boundary-pushing films from Japan! 

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TETSUO: THE IRON MAN 1989

Virtually absent from theater screens since the 1990s, this underground classic from Japan is now available in a brand new restoration! TETSUO: THE IRON MAN is filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto’s unhinged hot take on humankind’s ongoing battle with technology; literally, as a man mutates into a walking, clanking man-machine that terrorizes himself and everyone around him. Warping elements of early Cronenberg, Lynch, and Raimi into a deliriously-paced cyberpunk cocktail, TETSUO is a body horror manifesto that’s fueled by techno-erotic adrenaline and wrought iron perversion. Unmissable.

Sunday, May 7

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto

Starring: Tomorowo Taguchi, Shinya Tsukamoto, Kei Fujiwara

Runtime: 67 min., Japan. 

DOUBLE FEATURE w/ TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER ($15 for both films!) 

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TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER 1992

This movie proves that "cyberpunk body horror" is the greatest genre on the planet. Picking up three years after the events in TETSUO: THE IRON MAN, TETSUO II finds Taniguchi Tomoo fully mutating into a grotesque machine-monster to seek revenge on the gang that kidnapped his son. Like TERMINATOR 2, TETSUO II is an expansive explosion of the themes, electricity, and artistry that came before, as filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto’s unhinged hot take on humankind’s battle with technology continues. Completely absent from theater screens for decades, this underground whirlwind from Japan has been newly restored.

Sunday, May 7

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto

Starring: Tomorowo Taguchi, Shinya Tsukamoto

Runtime: 82 min., Japan. 

DOUBLE FEATURE w/ TETSUO: THE IRON MAN ($15 for both films!) 

964 Pinocchio
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964 PINOCCHIO  1991

Pinocchio 964 is a memory-wiped sex slave who is thrown out by his owners for failure to maintain an erection. It is unclear in what ways he has been modified beyond having no memory and being unable to communicate. He is discovered by Himiko while wandering aimlessly through the city. Himiko has also been memory-wiped, possibly by the same company that produced Pinocchio, but she is fully functional. Himiko spends her days drawing maps of the city, to aid other memory-wiped people. Himiko takes Pinocchio home and tries to teach him to speak. After much effort he has a breakthrough and finally becomes aware of his situation. At this point his body erupts in an inexplicable metamorphosis and it becomes clear that his modifications were much more involved and esoteric than simple memory loss. Himiko also begins to transform, though in a much more subtle manner.

Director: Shozin Fukui

Starring: Haji Suzuki, Onn-chan, Koji Otsubo, Kyoko Hara

Runtime: 97 min., Japan

Sunday, May 14

audition
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AUDITION 1999

One of the most infamous, impactful, and gut-wrenching Japanese horror films ever made returns to the big screen! Recent widower (and movie producer) Shigeharu is looking for a new wife. But instead of going the usual route, he decides to hold “auditions” for a movie that doesn’t exist. Shigeharu quickly becomes enchanted with Asami, a spooky twenty-something who is responsive to his charms. But things aren’t what they seem. AUDITION was the turn-of-the-millenium flash point that signaled the talent of Takashi Miike (ICHI THE KILLER). With this movie, Miike delivers a nerve-shredding exploration of male fears and the stereotype of submissive Japanese women. Shocking audiences worldwide with its white-knuckle finale and ingenious slow-burn build-up, AUDITION was responsible for creating a fresh new wave of Asian horror. And we’re eternally grateful.

Friday, May 19

Director: Takashi Miike

Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Jun Kunimura, Tetsu Sawaki

Runtime: 115 min., Japan

Sunday, May 21

Battle Royale
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BATTLE ROYALE 2000

42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. If they break a rule, the collar explodes. Their mission: kill each other and be the last one standing. The last survivor is allowed to leave the island. If there is more than one survivor, the collars explode and kill them all.

Thursday, May 25

Sunday, May 28

Director: Kinji Fukasaku

Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano, Tarō Yamamoto

Runtime: 114 min., Japan

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