Three… Extremes

Following the nightmarish visions of Kim Jee-woon, Nonzee Nimibutr, and Peter Ho-Sun Chan in 3 Extremes II (2002), a new triad of directors from China, South Korea, and Japan delivers three short horror stories aiming to chill the bone to the marrow. Starting with Fruit Chan's "Dumplings (2004)", desperate trophy wife Mrs Li is willing to try everything in her power to restore her beauty and rekindle her philandering husband's passion. But when cryptic local chef Aunt Mei enters the picture, Mrs Li will have to take a leap of faith to sink her teeth into her succulent, special dumplings. Then, in Park Chan-wook's "Cut", a prominent film director faces his deepest fears when a determined psychopath breaks into his home. Forced to do the sadistic intruder's bidding, the filmmaker explores the boundaries of manipulation and pain with the help of his gagged and cuffed wife. Finally, in Takashi Miike's "Box", guilt-ridden former circus contortionist Kyoko still grapples with regret and shame. But after surviving the harrowing incident that changed her life fifteen years ago, Kyoko is about to discover that her evil past has returned with a vengeance.-Nick Riganas