Overview: A secret team of scientists has crossed the line between medicine and madness, implanting embryos into human hosts in a series of hideous experiments designed to create a new form of life. But when their latest subject takes her own life before giving birth, the operation spirals into desperation.

Accompanied by a malformed cyclops mutant as muscle, the researchers descend into the city in search of a new victim - dragging an unsuspecting young woman into a nightmare of medical horror that degenerates into a frenzy of deformed flesh, slimy transformations and mutant showdowns.

Emerging from Japan’s late-’80s direct-to-video boom, Cyclops stands as an early, unhinged entry in the country’s underground splatter movement. Directed by Jōji “George” Iida in his debut, the film fuses Cronenberg-style body horror with low budget V-cinema rawness - building methodically before erupting into a chaotic finale packed with grotesque practical effects and full-throttle gore. A lean, mean descent into pure biological terror, it’s a classic cult relic of experimental Japanese horror at its most hardcore and bizarre.

It now features a brand new 2K transfer from the original 16mm film elements.

Blu-ray Verdict: The story, as far as I could fathom, involves the next step in evolution: people born with genetic anomalies to help them adapt to harmful substances in the atmosphere. Most die from these mutations while still in their infancy, but thanks to the work of scientist Keiichi Takozawa, some have survived to adulthood.

Doctor Takamori (Kazuhiro Sano), Takozawa’s protege, continues to study the next stage in human evolution, his adopted sister Miyuki (Mayumi Hasegawa) being one such mutant. Meanwhile, one-eyed Sonezaki (Kai Atô) tries to prevent Takamori’s child from being born (not sure why - just one of the things that confused me about the movie).

For the most part, Cyclops is unremarkable and perplexing stuff; the last fifteen minutes, however, is all-out Japanese craziness, packed with oozing tendrils and mucky appendages. Although I still didn’t have a clue what was going on, I’m a sucker for gross-out practical effects and the final quarter of an hour definitely held my interest with its messy mayhem, the fight in a lift between Takamori and Sonezaki being the highlight, the two men’s mutated bodies eventually becoming one heaving mass of fleshy confusion in the process.

Not essential viewing for most horror fans, but if you’re an admirer of such films as Splatter: Naked Blood, Tetsuo, the Guinea Pig series, or Biotherapy, then it’s probably worth 52 minutes of your time. [B.H.]

Bonus Features:
New 2K transfer from original 16mm film elements
Commentary with Justin Decloux of The important Cinema Club and Patrick Macias, author of Tokyoscope: the Japanese Cult Film Companion
No Compliance: New Interview with director Joji “George” Iida
Not In The Way Your Expect: The Films of Joji “George” Iida - Video Essay
All the Monsters Are Here: The Japanese DTV Market of the Mid-’80s - Video Essay
Image Gallery
Koji Yamamura Sketch Gallery
Visual Vengeance trailers
Folded mini-poster featuring original pressbook art
Reversible sleeve featuring original Japanese VHS art
Optional English Subtitles
Japanese language or English subs options
‘Stick Your Own’ VHS stickers (FIRST PRESSING ONLY)
The Creation of Cyclops – 16-page liner notes booklet (FIRST PRESSING ONLY)
A (Short) Horror Trip – 8-page liner notes booklet (FIRST PRESSING ONLY)
Limited Edition slipcase art by The Dude (FIRST PRESSING ONLY)

Cyclops | Original Blu-ray Trailer

Official Purchase Link