Tsukamotos grisly, goofy second feature, which cemented his status as a new master of Japanese extremity, gets a solid HD presentation.

Tsukamoto’s film is a classic, a narrative that expertly blends two contradictory atmospheres, a campy one and a threatening one, into an unforgettable experience that is as touchingly lighthearted as is it disturbingly horrifying.

While Hiruko seems like a departure from Tsukamoto's intense metal infused body horror, it is fascinating to see him make something a little more lowkey, comparatively, and explore a different, more tender side of his artistic expression.

None of it is very funny, nor even vaguely amusing - it's a lot of shouting and blood-spurting about, if that's your bag - and it brings the pace to a complete stand-still