Three Extremes

Three Extremes is inspired by the concept of the film, Three, in which the film is a collection of three films by three directors from three countries. Three Extremes is a 2004 International Asian Horror Film.

The three segments of the film are:
Dumplings, directed by Fruit Chan from Hong Kong
Cut, directed by Park Chan-wook from South Korea
Box, directed by Takashi Miike from Japan

First in the series of gruesome, intelligent tales is Dumplings. Dumplings is about an aging actress desperately holding onto her youth. She visits a woman who supposedly makes dumplings that contain regenerative properties. Unbeknown to the aging actress these dumplings contain a horrific ingredient.

Dumplings depends on a unique story while looking at an age old problem, preserving the beauty of youth. Like the famous fountain of youth, these dumplings promise to keep you looking ageless. Of course when you find out what the secret ingredient is, you’ll be horrified. It makes perfect sense after you know though. None the less, Dumplings is not for the squeamish.

The film and its concept was so strong, Dumplings was turned into a full-length feature by Fruit Chan in the spring of 2006. The versions vary a bit, with further explanation into our aging actress’ life and a bit of background of the “secret ingredient” for the dumplings. Dumplings is disgusting, surreal and an interesting take on how extreme some will go to try to contain their youth.

Onto the next film, Cut. Cut is about a successful film director and his wife. They are kidnapped by an extra, who forces the director to play his sadistic games. If he fails, his wife's fingers will be chopped off one by one every five minutes. She is attached to a spider-web made of piano wire. The kidnapper plays tricks on the director’s mind, ultimately testing the good that lies within. Cut is an examination of humanity and the struggle to be good and intrinsic versus giving into selfish desires, jealousy and bad habits.

The movie plays with your head just like the extra tries to play with the director. Ultimately the end of the short films leaves you confused and pondering how exactly everything happened. Sometimes Cut can be a bit frustrating because it moves at a bit of a slow pace, but you'll still be intrigued by what happens. The ending leaves you wondering what exactly did happen and how. It's left open for interpretation just like the last film.

The last short film included in Three Extremes is called Box. Box is the most complicated and truly compelling one of them all. A beautiful soft spoken young woman, Kyoko, is haunted by recurring dreams of being buried in a box, or sometimes plastic wrapping, in the snow. Always searching for her long lost sister, she realizes that her dreams and reality may somehow be connected.

The imagery and landscape is captured beautifully and will captivate the audience. Much of the imagery is also hidden symbolism. There's a lot of snow, barren land and a claustrophobic atmosphere. Kyoko's apartment is also barren. It seems to be a symbol of something missing, of being somehow trapped.

Our main character, Kyoko and her sister, Shyoko were contortionists in their fathers traveling circus act when they were children. Something horrible seems to happen between these sisters. Usually after this, it's revealed to have been just a nightmare. It's quite jarring not being able to tell whether she is dreaming or not. The circus makeup also symbolizes using a mask to hide your true self. We don't really know anything about Kyoko or Shyoko, just that Kyoko seems to have these horrible nightmares every night. It's up to the audience to interpret.

The ending will have you thinking about everything you saw. Dreams are great representations of our desires in our waking life. Box is deep and makes you question the true nature of things.

Three Extremes is a excellent combination of films. Disgusting, compelling, and truly making the audience think, Three Extremes is definitely a collection that fans of any genre of horror can appreciate.

4 ½ stars out of 5.