Starring: Kai Atô, Mayumi Hasegawa, Yoshimasa Kondô, Kazuhiro Sano, Nobuo Takahashi

New 2K transfer from original 16mm elements

“Evolution is about to get sloppy”

A secret group of scientists believes grotesque human mutations may represent the next stage of evolution – and they are willing to use living women to prove it. When their latest experiment ends in disaster, the researchers hunt the streets for a new subject, accompanied by a mysterious one-eyed mutant hiding behind dark glasses. Their obsession soon erupts into a delirious showdown of rupturing flesh, mutant bodies and spectacular practical gore in director Jôji Iida’s (Night Head, Ring, Spiral) notorious Japanese body-horror nightmare.

Shot on 16mm, Cyclops emerged from the same underground Japanese splatter culture as Guzoo, Biotherapy and Guinea Pig, mixing fears of pollution and mutation with gloriously tactile effects. Shuichi Kokumai and Yûichi Matsui turn the climax into an outrageous eruption of wounds, torn flesh and gelatinous transformation. A true cult artifact of late-’80s Japanese body horror – packed with Cronenbergian mutation, splatter-punk excess and DIY ingenuity in one goopy package.