Three… Extremes (2004)
Directed by: Fruit Chan, Park Chan-wook, Takashi Miike
Written by: Haruko Fukushima, Park Chan-wook, Pik-Wah Lee
Starring: Atsuro Watabe, Bai Ling, Kyoko Hasegawa, Lee Byung-Hun, Miriam Yeung, Tony Leung Ka-Fai
A part of the Three / Three… Extremes Arrow Video Set
Obtainable on Blu-ray twentieth October 2025
As mentioned within the evaluate for half one in every of this set 2002’s Three was generally bought as a sequel to Three… Extremes. Nevertheless, viewing this one afterwards is an important a part of the expertise as the degrees of extremity attain new heights. It’s the principle course in additional methods than one, and this time three chapters are greater than sufficient. In any case, you solely have to say a reputation like Park Chan-wook and even simply the chapter title ‘Dumplings’ to get a response from some world cinema followers. A number of years in the past when ‘excessive cinema’ residence video labels have been rising these have been a giant a part of that have. Abdomen churning and eye-watering moments await on this second instalment…
To actually get issues going director Fruit Chan delivers some Class III nastiness. However he additionally manages to incorporate loads of meals for thought in different methods with a yarn about ageing and vainness in ‘Dumplings’. Former TV star Mrs. Li (Miriam Yeung) arrives on the residence of so-called ‘Aunt’ Mei (Bai Ling), after being promised a secret recipes will make her youthful and very important once more. Mei says that Mrs. Li will get precisely what she paid for… however what’s within the magic method? What makes one batch stronger than one other? Curiously this isn’t handled as a spoiler; suggesting that Mei’s prospects are merely unhappy and determined. However the longer the story goes on the extra repulsive issues get.
Slowly because the layers of depravity escalate Mr. Li (Tony Leung Ka-Fai) discovers that his spouse is getting youthful (and kinkier) than earlier than. Her buddies discover that she’s extra radiant than traditional. He’s having an affair and so they’re vapid socialites, however she needs her outdated life again anyway. Sadly the outcomes of this new food plan are about to have some side-effects. It’s grotesque whereas managing to touch upon the lives of the rich and people in poorer areas. The music can be fairly sinister and just like the earlier three shorts all of it seems nice from a visible standpoint. It’s not delicate by any means however it makes The Substance look fairly restrained in hindsight.
Elsewhere Park Chan-wook offers a blood-soaked hostage scenario in chapter two; ‘Minimize’. Like the opposite tales included right here it’s attention-grabbing to search out that they’re all way more unpredictable than in Three, however that is the flashiest one in every of all. Panic Room type CGI is used to map out the film set many of the drama takes place on, highlighting the vainness of its protagonist. The Director (Lee Byung-hun) goes residence after taking pictures some form of vampire story, and enters a home that’s nearly similar to the set. However earlier than there’s time for any introspection (or ideas on the implications of him being a chilly bloodsucker) he’s kidnapped by a deranged film additional; The Stranger (Im Gained-hee).
Now trapped on the set along with his spouse glued to a piano The Director is examined by the madman, who needs to spill lots of blood to show one thing concerning the world. As issues go on his motives turn out to be extra hazy and the hostages turn out to be extra unlikeable. Shifting sympathies and altering stakes hold it attention-grabbing even when the narrative itself can be a bit muddled by the top. Ought to good individuals undergo whereas unhealthy individuals turn out to be rich in order that they’ll all get what they deserve within the afterlife? Not one of the characters are heroic however it’s nonetheless filled with placing photos and memorably eccentric moments, even when the story as an entire is much less cohesive.
Nevertheless, all of the shenanigans come to an finish within the final story ‘Field’ directed by Takashi Miike. Right here issues really feel like an actual nightmare fairly than only a brutal endurance take a look at. It appears to be a ghost story initially however it quickly turns into one thing a lot stranger. It’s additionally an train in less-is-more; the violence this time round is subdued and the soundscape is commonly eerie and silent. This deft contact permits actual private unhappiness to be explored in a narrative about individuals as getting used as dolls. The coldness of winter contrasts with the fires of hell in probably the most dramatic trying, and feeling, chapter of this second trilogy.
Kyoko (Kyoko Hasegawa) works on a manuscript in a naked residence, which her writer (Atsuro Watabe) discovers could be haunted. However the story is haunting in different methods as she remembers a tragedy from fifteen years in the past involving her twin sister Shoko. Sibling jealousy and parental abuse turn out to be blurred as flashes of this previous life seem. Quickly the importance of a circus act, an odd dart, and a dream about being trapped in a plastic bag, turn out to be clear. It’s very spooky however it’s unsettling on a number of totally different ranges because the flashbacks converge. Maybe the ultimate reveal isn’t as efficient however it’s all a part of a robust closing section.
For these uncertain whether or not to get the brand new twin film assortment this twisted descent by means of many layers of horror is the principle spotlight. It actually lives as much as the title of Three… Extremes and manages to cram in a bunch of various emotional beats and in addition to many stunning moments. As Aunt Mei suggests you’re going to get what you paid for. In complete there are six nice trying brief movies with a number of ghosts, curses, kidnappings, and killings, even when there isn’t any direct theme tying them collectively in a typical anthology sense. However this trio from 2004 is definitely the one which is able to go away you feeling the influence most.
