Iron Maze

1991 film directed by Hiroaki Yoshida

Jeff Fahey
Bridget Fonda
Hiroaki Murakami
J. T. Walsh

CinematographyMorio SaegusaEdited byBonnie Koehler

Production
companies

J&M Entertainment, Kitty Films, TYO Productions

Release date

October 10, 1991 (1991-10-10)

Running time

104 minutesCountriesJapan, United StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$9 million^[1]

Iron Maze is a 1991 Japanese and American film directed by Hiroaki Yoshida and executive produced by Oliver Stone, starring Jeff Fahey, Bridget Fonda, Hiroaki Murakami, and J.T. Walsh.

Based on Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's story In a Grove (the same short story that was used for Kurosawa's Rashomon), this contemporary re-telling shifts the action to a Pennsylvania 'Rust Belt' town.^[2]^[3]

Plot

The son of a Japanese billionaire is injured in an abandoned steel mill he bought in a Pennsylvania town. The police discover it might not be an accident when they start questioning the people in the town.

Cast

Jeff Fahey as Barry Mikowski
Bridget Fonda as Chris Sugita
Hiroaki Murakami as Junichi Sugita
J.T. Walsh as Jack Ruhle
Carmen Filpi as Charlie
Gabriel Damon as Mikey

Reception

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "Rashomon in the Rust Belt".^[4] Vincent Canby of The New York Times said it was a "leading entry in the looniest movie of the year sweepstakes."^[5]

References

^ "J&M, Col Get Rights To Pressman Pix". Daily Variety. May 14, 1990. p. 6.
^ "Iron Maze". Time Out Worldwide. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
^ "Iron Maze (1991)". BFI. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
^ Kevin Thomas (1991-11-01). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Iron Maze': 'Rashomon' in the Rust Belt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
^ Canby, Vincent (1991-11-01). "Review/Film; Flashbacks Proliferate. Also Murk. (Published 1991)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-16.