Shinya Tsukamoto

In Shinya Tsukamoto's surreal and funny action film, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, we get to see the transformation from briefcase-toting salaryman into a monstrous combination of flesh and metal. Tsukamoto combines a driving industrial soundtrack with amphetamine-laced pacing, an undercurrent of violent eroticism, and threads of black humor worthy of Lynch or Bunuel. You'll probably never see Tetsuo: The Iron Man at your local theater, but you might be able to grab a copy at your local independent video store.

Richard Kadrey is the author of the Covert Culture Sourcebook 2.0, a directory to everything you ever wanted, but didn't know about, including books, music, videos, software, sex toys, UFOs, pirate media, fashion, zines, and Web sites. US$12.95 from St. Martin's Press.