Recently while attending the fourth annual New York City Horror Film Festival I had the opportunity to attending a screening of Lions Gate Films upcoming genre release Three…Extremes. It has come to be called “triptych of horror”, but it is a horror anthology much in the same mold as Tales from the Crypt, (1972), Trilogy of Terror (1975), and Creepshow (1982), and Tales from the Hood (1995). The similarities between those films mentioned about and Three…Extremes is one of categorization only, because they couldn't be more different in their approach and execution in storytelling. This film consists of three separate and unrelated short films. Each is directed by a noted Asian director with their own vision and style.
The following is a brief capsulation of each segment:
“Dumplings”
Fruit Chan (Hong Kong)
It is only human nature to yearn for your youthful days. You remember a time where the prejudices that now seem like barrier weren’t quite so blatant in your thirst for success. Many people today take several different avenues towards trying to turn back old man time, but in the end there really is only so much one can do or afford. Qing Li (Miriam Yeung Chin Wah) is an aging starlet who is trying to regain her youthful looks in hopes of winning back the love of her cheating husband. Her success over the years has provided her with means to afford just about anything to meet those ends. Through her connection, she is able to track down Chef Mei (Ling Bai), who is renowned for her dumplings. Little does Qing Li realize that price of tasting these sweet little dumplings will drive her to extreme means for maintaining her beauty. (**Our sources say that the future DVD release will include the 90 minute version of this story.**)
“Cut”
Park Chan-wook (Korea)
Ryu Ji-Ho (Bying-hun Lee) is a renowned film director who has earned the respect of just about everyone. This respect has translated into success which has afforded him a nice home and a beautiful wife. Life couldn’t be better for him, until late one night when he is confronted at home by deranged stranger who just happens to have been an extra in each of his film. Madly jealous at Ryu’s success and kind heart, the stranger takes Ryu’s pianist wife hostage threatening to cut off her fingers and ruin her career. At the same time this madman offers up a young child and if Ryu is willing to kill the child he will set his wife free. Either way, Ryu knows the choice he makes will forever veer him away from the current path of his life. The situation slowly continues to deteriorate into madness and Ryu’s sanity is pushing him to extremes measures.
“Box”
Takashi Miike (Japan)
Kyoko (Mitsuru Akaboshi) is successfully novelist who is haunted by a reoccurring dream of her pending demise. She confines herself to a solitary life firmly entrenched in her work, while at the same battling a strange attraction to her editor, whom seems strangely familiar. All the while she continues to deal with the tragic death of her twin who died several years earlier in a fire. As this dark little secret continues to haunt her, she receives an invitation that might bring an end to her nightmares.
Three…Extremes goes beyond any horror anthology you have ever seen in visual and artistic value. The filmmaking is beautiful and stylistic. When most horror anthologies play more on the comical side of its storyteller, Three…Extremes offers up hardcore visceral imagery. These stories are not for the faint of heart, so if you are looking for a Tales from the Crypt type movie, I suggest skipping this film. This is not to say that Three…Extremes isn’t overly gory, but the subject matter is quite intense. I would highly recommend this film to all fans of the genre. It is so refreshing to see a horror film not made for the PG-13 crowd.
Check out the official trailer.
Three…Extremes is scheduled to open theatrically on October 28th from Lions Gate Films.
