Battle Heater Kotatsu has everything to be a cult treasure but for whatever reason it never cashed in on that potential. Iida's film has been around for some time now (it was released in 1990) but never found the audience it was looking for. Let's hope we can do something about that.
I've seen some strange films in my life. Films that defied every possibility of landing sponsors but somehow managed to anyway. Often bearing scripts that should never have left the bar at 03:00 in the morning but made in into the actual film despite all odds. I don't think I've ever found a film that fits this description as well as Battle Heater Kotatsu does.
A kotatsu is one of those low tables with a heater detached underneath, keeping your legs warm in wintertime. For some reason though, the kotatsu in this film is alive. Once the protective seal is removed from the table it tries to feed on electricity in order to transform into a flesh-eating supertable. It then goes on to attack the strange cast of characters living in its apartment building.
Enter a suicidal old couple, a Japanese punk band, a murderous affair and a couple of repair men. Think of the film as a mixture between Hitoshi Matsumoto and Sogo Ishii and take it at face value. It's the only way to handle the absurd humor and dry delivery of the seriously demented storyline.
If you have any interest in silly Japanese cinema, you need to watch this. The first half hour is pure genius, from then on the film follows a more story-driven approach but the crazy setup is more than enough to keep it fun and stupid through-out.
Definitely recommended, just don't expect anything A-grade.