Three...Extremes (Saam gaang yi) (2004)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lewis C

  
  Three...Extremes is an anthology of three horror films by three respected Asian directors. "Dumplings" - Directed by Fruit Chan In Dumplings, an actress who has entered middle age and begun to lose the attention of her husband to an affair with a younger woman visits… More
  Three...Extremes is an anthology of three horror films by three respected Asian directors. "Dumplings" - Directed by Fruit Chan In Dumplings, an actress who has entered middle age and begun to lose the attention of her husband to an affair with a younger woman visits Aunt Mei, an old woman who still has the looks of her youth. Aunt Mei has a secret recipe that makes anyone look years younger, but such an unnatural benefit comes from a truly abominable source. I found Dumplings to be absolutely stomach-churning. A horror movie that doesn't even attempt to scare you, but actually tries (and succeeds, in my case) to horrifying you. Not for the squeamish. Even the sound effects eventually became almost more than I could bear. Disturbing and entertaining. - 4/5 "Cut" - Directed by Chan-wook Park A talented director and his wife are taken captive by a murderous, utterly insane movie extra. Cut is darkly comedic, utterly absurd, and far more meta than the other movies in this collection. It took me a while to figure out whether I liked it or not, but by the end of the segment, I was won over. Like Dumplings, Cut isn't frightening in the conventional sense. Instead, it's flat-out zany (in a good way). - 3.5/5 "Box" - Directed by Takashi Miike The most haunting of the three segments. Box is about a jealousy-fueled tragic accident involving two young sisters. The surviving sibling suffers from suffocating (literally) dreams and disturbing visions of her deceased sibling, even years later as an adult. Box is probably the creepiest of the three, and it has a psycho-sexual aspect to it that makes the whole thing even more unsettling. Definitely more of an atmospheric, "mood" movie than the other two. - 4/5 I liked all three segments, as well as the movie as a whole. I found Dumplings to be the most effective/entertaining, but I recommend the entire anthology. The three short films are not only memorable and very different from one another, but they're also fairly unique among the other horror movies that I've seen. Overall - 4/5

• Aditya G

  
  Few films manage to disgust yet fascinate you at the same time with their unusually outlandish and disturbing premises. "Three..Extremes" an offering from the dark underworld of Asian horror is one such film. This collaboration of film-makers from three different… More
  Few films manage to disgust yet fascinate you at the same time with their unusually outlandish and disturbing premises. "Three..Extremes" an offering from the dark underworld of Asian horror is one such film. This collaboration of film-makers from three different countries tells three different stories, all approximately 40 minutes in length, all exhibiting different levels of "Disturbing"! Since we are talking about three disparate stories here, it is only fair that each be reviewed separately. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first tale of terror comes from Hong Kong, an absolute shocker named "Dumplings", written by Lillian Lee and directed by Fruit Chan. This one goes straight for your jugular with its utterly disgusting theme revolving around a certain Mrs. Li and a certain Aunt Mei. Mrs. Li (Miriam Yeung) is an aging ex-actress going through a supposed midlife crisis and an unhappy marriage. Desperate to rejuvenate herself and regain her lost youth, she visits Aunt Mei (Bai Ling..superb!) who claims to have a secret recipe for some special "dumplings" that are supposed to give the partakers the ability to stay young. Only the "secret" of the recipe is revolting enough for anyone to lose their appetite... Fruit Chan directs very well and manages to succeed in his obvious goal of freaking the viewer out with his in-your-face display of gross-out material with some cringe-inducing special effects and sound effects. He builds the story to a shocking yet satisfying climax in a steady pace and subjects us to some highly repulsive images on the way. All said and done, this segment is a work of shimmering originality from Fruit Chan, who clearly knows his art. "Dumplings" treads new grounds in depicting the far extent to which human beings can go to in order to fulfill their deepest, darkest desires. Truly extreme.... Words of caution: 1)Not recommended for the squeamish. 2) Avoid watching over meals! Score: 9/10. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The second segment, "Cut" (South Korea) is a "Saw"-like tale from the maker of the Godly Korean film "Oldboy", Park Chan-Wook. A frustrated and mentally unstable man acting as an extra in a successful film-maker's films kidnaps the film-maker and his wife and keeps them all tied up in their own house. He then forces the film-maker to be a part of his sadistic games or face the consequences, which include chopping off his pianist wife's fingers one by one over every five minutes that the film-maker refuses to comply. This story is akin to the cult thriller "Saw" or Park Chan-Wook's own "Oldboy" on many levels. This segment is surprisingly the weakest of the three, in spite of the name of Park Chan-wook attached to it. It is one of those typical thrillers (wrongly dubbed as "horror") dealing with sadistic individuals depicting torture for the sake of torture yet there is no convincing basis for the tormentor's actions. In spite of being the weakest of the lot, this film succeeds on the directorial front with some taut storytelling, fantastic acting by Won-hie Lim and an aptly built claustrophobic atmosphere. The gore quotient is moderate, definitely lower than "Dumplings", and barring a couple of scenes, most of the blood spilling happens off-screen, so all you faint-hearts don't have to turn away every time. Score: 8/10. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The last story is the icing on this bizarre cake..."Box" (Japan) by Takashi Miike is my most favourite of the three. This is a segment that would please lovers of atmospheric, surreal psychological thrillers as well as horror fans alike. It is about a young and beautiful writer named Kyoko who has recurring nightmares about being wrapped in a plastic sheet and being buried in a box in some unknown snow-clad region by a person whose face is not seen. "The dream always ends there.." as she reiterates. Is this dream somehow connected to her reality? Takashi Miike directs with the kind of poetic finesse that would make David Lynch proud. "Box" is brilliantly executed with haunting imagery, minimalist sound effects, a terrifying sense of isolation, astounding background score, clubbed with a layered narrative. The strange, enigmatic storyline further adds to its many qualities. Kôichi Kawakami's cinematography is especially noteworthy in this...."Box" is the most beautiful looking segment of all! Almost like a painting coming to life! Kyoko Hasegawa as Kyoko, delivers a commendable performance here and looks beautiful as well. "Box" is devoid of extreme gore and relies primarily on mood and atmosphere. This is one exceptional quality of this segment that separates it from the previous two. "Box" clearly scores the most, 'cause it is easier for any film to create shock value from extremely disturbing situations and gore but it is much more difficult to hold an audience captive in its unsettling environment. Score: 9.5/10. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conclusion: "Three..extremes" is a solid entry from Asian cinema and a must-see for all film connoisseurs who like their films freaky and wicked!

• familiar s

  
  Dumplings - 2.5/5 Cut - 3.5/5 Box - 3/5

• Robert C

  
  While all of them were interesting, the only segment that REALLY got to me was the first film called "Dumplings". It was truly disturbing on many levels and I highly recomend it to those who like that sort of thing. They get progressivly less interesting (in my opinion)… More
  While all of them were interesting, the only segment that REALLY got to me was the first film called "Dumplings". It was truly disturbing on many levels and I highly recomend it to those who like that sort of thing. They get progressivly less interesting (in my opinion) from first to last, which is odd because usually they save the best for last on this sort of a project. Having said that, I do think that fans of the genere will enjoy the journey(s).

• Randy T

  
  Episodic horror done right. Three tales of terror that will surely induce either the willies, the creeps or the eebie-jeebies, depending on your personal tastes. For me, there was one specific scene that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up - just don't ask me… More
  Episodic horror done right. Three tales of terror that will surely induce either the willies, the creeps or the eebie-jeebies, depending on your personal tastes. For me, there was one specific scene that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up - just don't ask me which scene it was until you've seen <i>Three...Extremes</i> for yourself.

• Anthony L

  
  I wish I had skipped Dumplings and waited for the long version as I felt a little let down after the big shock was revealed early on in the film, after that it just seem to fade out. Was shocked at how bad Cut was considering Chan-wook Park's fantastic portfolio of work, I found… More
  I wish I had skipped Dumplings and waited for the long version as I felt a little let down after the big shock was revealed early on in the film, after that it just seem to fade out. Was shocked at how bad Cut was considering Chan-wook Park's fantastic portfolio of work, I found it pointless and a little dull. Box is another slice of Miike magic and although it?s a little slow at times, he make up for it with his signature shock ending. That said though, this was nowhere near as good as his previous work. All in all, I was expecting more!

• Saskia D

  
  Mweh.. not really my thing.. Although Dumplings was the best out of the 3, they all couldn't really amuse me.

• Kylie B

  
  In all honesty, I was expecting something more. Although Dumplings was still good I prefer the longer version, as to me this section felt rushed. I'm not sure I remember the last bath scene from the other film, and it was probably the best thing about the short. Although the… More
  In all honesty, I was expecting something more. Although Dumplings was still good I prefer the longer version, as to me this section felt rushed. I'm not sure I remember the last bath scene from the other film, and it was probably the best thing about the short. Although the ideas behind Cut were interesting, I didn't particularly like it. Box I liked rather well, but not enough to consider adding this to my collection - though if Box was available on its own I would buy that. All in alll it was worth a rent but I can't say I'm overflowing with praise for it.

• Lady D

  
  THREE EXTREMES are three short films put together by some of Asia's best Directors. Each are reviewed as follows: DUMPLINGS - This film instantly made it as the sickest film I'd ever seen, with every stomach-churning crunch, I found it very difficult to get to the end of… More
  THREE EXTREMES are three short films put together by some of Asia's best Directors. Each are reviewed as follows: DUMPLINGS - This film instantly made it as the sickest film I'd ever seen, with every stomach-churning crunch, I found it very difficult to get to the end of this film, but somehow managed. I'd be very interested to know if the guys as bad as the ladies watching this, given the subject matter? On reflection though, I feel I now understand it more as a creative piece. I think it provides an extreme metaphor for the kind of celebrity culture we have, where looks and youth are preserved at any cost. CUT An interesting film, which forms a visually artistic piece. Although this is a Short, it did seem to stretch a little at times and maybe it could have been made into even a shorter film, but was pretty enjoyable all the same. BOX A twisted plot as always, Takashi Miike?s contribution to the trilogy is by far the best. What is unspoken in this piece speaks volumes and the silence in fact makes a huge impact on the sinister tale ? One of Takashi Miikes most enjoyable films in my opinion and makes this trilogy worth watching.

• xGary X

  
  Three Extremes is a horror compendium from three of the most talented directors working today, although it's far from the kind of clunky Twilight Zonery you'll find in most examples of this genre. The first segment by Fruit Chan is probably the most straightforward of the… More
  Three Extremes is a horror compendium from three of the most talented directors working today, although it's far from the kind of clunky Twilight Zonery you'll find in most examples of this genre. The first segment by Fruit Chan is probably the most straightforward of the three, telling the story of a back street abortionist who sells the aborted fetuses as dumplings that promote youth and beauty. It aims straight for the gross out factor and although succeeds in making the viewer uncomfortable it fails to really explore the subject. It is done with some considerable visual style though. The second by Chan-wook Park is a beautiful looking tale about a film director who wakes up on his own film set having been kidnapped by a disgruntled extra who tells he he must murder a child or his wife will be tortured to death. The concept obviously has a lot in common with A.D.D. teen pleaser Saw but it is done with considerably more style and wit and is tinged with black humour. I found the twist at the end a little unsatisfying and unnecessary but otherwise it's gripping. But the best is saved for last as Takashi Miike's extraordinary talent for the macabre tells the haunting story of an authoress who is plagued by horrific dreams that are rooted in a tragic event from her childhood. Both beautiful and disturbing, it's reminiscent of David Lynch's most powerful imagery.

• _kelly .

  
  Still have to see Miike's portion. Will write or adjust a bit more if needed.<br/><br/>Based on Chan's "Dumplings" and Park's "Cut", I love this. My favorite Asian horrors are tending to fall into the "compilation" pile so far.… More
  Still have to see Miike's portion. Will write or adjust a bit more if needed.<br/><br/>Based on Chan's "Dumplings" and Park's "Cut", I love this. My favorite Asian horrors are tending to fall into the "compilation" pile so far. Maybe I just have such bad ADD that, when it comes to horror, I'd rather three short tight stories totaling near or over two hours than one seventy to ninety minute piece that has to stretch its flesh and tension across such a long lapse of time. American films tend to deal with this by sucking (adding irrelevant character scenes, "metal music" and "gory stuff" montages, retreading a plot point that just caused another character's demise). Asian films just seem to keep layering and layering with new even more nasty details that either stay or become relevant (check the Art of the Devil movies for a good example of this layering). Obviously, I'm preferring that latter tactic, but it can be overwhelming and leave an audience member feeling emotionally exhausted before the movie's done (check out Park's Vengeance trilogy- I had to watch all of those films, though brilliant, in pieces). <br/><br/>"Most Fucked Up" highlight: bathtub scene at the conclusion of "Dumplings"

• Tsubaki S

  
  While far from being the best from each director (well, maybe it is the best from Fruit Chan, compared to Hollywood Hong Kong) it still touches areas that your average Saw-ish/hollywood horror flick doesn't have any idea they exist. That main area being that human beings will… More
  While far from being the best from each director (well, maybe it is the best from Fruit Chan, compared to Hollywood Hong Kong) it still touches areas that your average Saw-ish/hollywood horror flick doesn't have any idea they exist. That main area being that human beings will always be the most scary and disturbing creatures you can encounter. Not vampires or ghosts or faceless guys killing teens. The real horror resides in the human mind for sure, and the stories presented in this film deal with that. How humans can get obssesed with the most absurd things, and how far they can go to obtain said things. In that sense this film is more close in spirit to films like Irreversible, Audition and Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, than your usual cheap thrill shock-fests.

• Emily A

  
  I'm starting to really like short films, and these are some of the best three ever. My favorite was Dumplings, but Cut and Box were pretty good too, although a little less than straight-forward. All three movies were full of arresting visuals and FUBAR stories, and are peopled… More
  I'm starting to really like short films, and these are some of the best three ever. My favorite was Dumplings, but Cut and Box were pretty good too, although a little less than straight-forward. All three movies were full of arresting visuals and FUBAR stories, and are peopled with characters that really seem like normal people. Fans of Asian horror have to see this one.

• Michael S

  
  Uhhhh. This movie gives me the creeps just thinking about it.

• Drew S

  
  Dumplings is the best of the films, with a dynamic performance by Miriam Yeung and a chilling, repulsive, delightful plot. Cut is next; though the ending is uncomfortably convenient, the movie will have you on tenterhooks. Box is pretty worthless, though beautifully shot. It's… More
  Dumplings is the best of the films, with a dynamic performance by Miriam Yeung and a chilling, repulsive, delightful plot. Cut is next; though the ending is uncomfortably convenient, the movie will have you on tenterhooks. Box is pretty worthless, though beautifully shot. It's Takashi Miike. Go figure.

• Antony S

  
  A dream come true for Asian horror gans, Three Extremes is, as the title may suggest, a portmanteau picture comprised of three 30-40 minute fforts from Fruit Chan, Park Chan-Wook and Takashi Miike. Dumplings is an eerie work; a lot of fuss has been made over the grisly nature of the… More
  A dream come true for Asian horror gans, Three Extremes is, as the title may suggest, a portmanteau picture comprised of three 30-40 minute fforts from Fruit Chan, Park Chan-Wook and Takashi Miike. Dumplings is an eerie work; a lot of fuss has been made over the grisly nature of the topic (feotuses as a foodstuff), but this is dealt with subtle, sparing detail rather than gore. As a result, Chan gives the picture a sense of unease that will stay with the viewer long after the credits. Park's Cut is, of course, a torture piece, regarding an extra's incarceration of a film director and his wife, their bindings a step away from extreme violence. Despite some perhaps clumsy moralising, the piece allows Park to shine through some astonishing camerawork, doing far more with one-and-ahalf rooms than you'd expect. Watch out for those tracking shots! The final segment, Miike's Box, is a tale more in the vein of Hideo Nakata, not only chilling, but with a reality-altering noirish theme. Miike's efforts are best displayed in the my-god-is-this-snuff stakes, makng the plastic bag-suffocation scenes disturbingly real. With a new, full-length Dumplings, and a sequel on the way, let's hope the Eastern horror boat sails on.

• Ryan M

  
  8.3/10 You know you've got somewhat of an instant classic on your hands when your horror anthology has a segment that compels one to say something along the lines of: "I never want to eat, see, and devour a dumpling ever again". This horror… More
  8.3/10 You know you've got somewhat of an instant classic on your hands when your horror anthology has a segment that compels one to say something along the lines of: "I never want to eat, see, and devour a dumpling ever again". This horror anthology by some top-notch Asian directors is sick, brutal, disturbing, twisted, and a pretty good example of how to make a genre picture such as this work. The film draws horror rather ingeniously. It doesn't only scare because of gore; it scares out of the horrors of every-day life. And...maybe a little bit of gore too. Fruit Chan exercises his twisted brilliance with the first of the three segments, "Dumplings". To me, this is the best segment. The story follows an aging actress in search of re-claiming her good old young self as she starts to meet with a woman who makes special dumplings just for such a problem. However, this woman has a secret ingredient; which is the ingredient which makes these dumplings work their magic. Her secret is just a touch of fetus. Isn't that grand? I note this as the best segment of the three because, as I said, it makes me never want to eat another dumpling ever again. A sickening, twisted little fantasy; "Dumplings" is original and daring. Ling Bai also gives an exceptionally haunting performance as the crazy dumpling lady. Park Chan-Wook, director of "Oldboy" (which is an awesome-freaking-movie, see it now), crafts "Cut". This is the middle child in this anthology; so it might have some problems, as only middle children do. But that doesn't mean I can't like it. This story concerns a film/television director as he is kidnapped and psychologically tortured by a madman who has acted as an "extra" in several of the man's past films. The mad kidnapper intends on cutting off every single one of the man's wife's fingers, one-by-one. Yes, he has kidnapped her to. A clever, violent/disturbing, but somewhat moving piece. Well-made on all accounts. "Box" is the final installment in this anthology, and it is directed by Takashi Miike; king of the creepy (for the most part). A woman has nightmares that she is being buried in a box. As the story goes on, we discover that maybe- just maybe- this isn't just a dream after all. Good story, some say it's the best of the three. Manages to hold our interest no matter what it's doing, and has some admirably bizarre moments/imagery that only a weirdo like me could love. There aren't many horror movies out there like this one. It's one of the best horror anthologies, and I admired everything about it. There's nothing that you just can't like about it, to tell the truth. Each story tells its own tale, with the taut direction of each master. This may be new ground for at least one of them, but it's good to see new faces in new territory from time-to-time. I was shocked by how well-made this film was. From the opening shots, all the way to the end, the film is beautifully shot, photographed, and even conceived. The imagery is surreal and bizarre; just the way I like it. There's also some clever writing going on, but you'll only see it if you can distant yourself from the vomit that may very well be resting somewhere in your stomach. Some will not enjoy this film for its violence, and that's OK. But any true horror fan should see it. It does not seek to merely provoke out of gore; but also out of real scares. It makes us think about the horror. It makes us bathe in it. And when we're done absorbing it all, we get to have one last breath. And then the film starts back up again, scaring us like hell. In short, it's a smart movie; a very smart movie. Not just for its genre, but as a film overall. If you want a good horror anthology, then here's one to ponder watching. I can't imagine it being rejected by many, but the question is, will it stick? Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't. Does it matter? Again, probably not. But what does matter is good horror movies, and the fact that they can still be made. In a world where few of these genre pieces succeed, take the fruit and cherish its beauty and taste. As long as you don't see it as "bad taste".

• Daniel P

  
  <i>Three... Extremes</i> is an anthology of three 40 minute films, unconnected aside from the fact they are all from talented directors and could all be classified in the horror genre. <p>First up, and best of the three is <I>Dumplings</I> from Fruit… More
  <i>Three... Extremes</i> is an anthology of three 40 minute films, unconnected aside from the fact they are all from talented directors and could all be classified in the horror genre. <p>First up, and best of the three is <I>Dumplings</I> from Fruit Chan, which concerns a cook, Aunt Mei, who is renowned in close circles for her home-made dumplings which may or may-not have rejuvenating properties. The secret ingredient? Aborted foetuses - eww!! That's no spoiler by the way either, since unusually/ingeniously, we discover the secret at the very beginning. <I>Dumplings</I> is definitely icky but it's also blackly funny, and has two cracking performances from Bai Ling as the demented chef Aunt Mei, and Miriam Yeung Chin Wah as the (almost equally demented) former soap actress Mrs Lee, desperate to look younger and to regain the attentions of her (unfaithful) husband. Sound design is arch but very effective, the camera framing is very inventive and the photography is stunning. The ending is a little unsatisfying just in that it seems rushed, but is also quietly disturbing and memorable. Four Stars. <p>Next comes <I>Cut</I> from the inimitable Chan-wook Park, which is a self-reflexive and somewhat clever tale of a film extra who takes hostage the director of the films he works on, as well as the director's young, trophy wife, and proceeds to torture them in ever gory ways, apparently without much motive. There's little plot to <I>Cut</I> and the short running time plays to its strengths (<I>Dumplings</I>, by contrast, feels a little rushed and has been released separately as a feature-length film), but the hysteria gets weary after a while and the ending feels somehow both too obvious and a bit weak. For most of the running time though, it's a tense and funny ride that's worth the watch. Three and a half stars. <p>Finally, we come to <I>Box</I>, from Takashi Miike, a director who seems to have a very inconsistent output. <I>Box</I> unfortunately, is not one of his good films. A pointless, unmemorable and incoherent story that is too boring to even summarise, I really wish I had skipped this part. Personally, what I found most annoying was that it wasn't a complete pile of crap that I could watch for fun; <I>Box</I> is tedious but it also looks stunning and the sound design is faultless, so I kept watching in the hopes that something would happen. But no, it ends with a ridiculous non-twist that is just plain laughable and adds nothing. By proxy, it makes the first two instalments look like masterpieces, but it also means the film as a whole ends on a very bad note. One and a half stars.

• Brandon K

  
  This is a tough one since it's three films in one. Big thumbs up for Dumplings. The sound mix alone will make you cringe. Cut was interesting and it finished very strongly but it plays out a little bit like a dark comedy rather than a horror. As for Box, all I can say is it… More
  This is a tough one since it's three films in one. Big thumbs up for Dumplings. The sound mix alone will make you cringe. Cut was interesting and it finished very strongly but it plays out a little bit like a dark comedy rather than a horror. As for Box, all I can say is it was a perfect mix of boring and disappointing.

• Doctor S

  
  Three moody, disturbing 40-minute films from Asia make up <i>Three...Extremes</i> with a director from China (Fruit Chan contributing "Dumplings"), Korea (Chan Wook Park "Cut"), and Japan.(Takashi Miike "Box.") All three qualify as… More
  Three moody, disturbing 40-minute films from Asia make up <i>Three...Extremes</i> with a director from China (Fruit Chan contributing "Dumplings"), Korea (Chan Wook Park "Cut"), and Japan.(Takashi Miike "Box.") All three qualify as "thinking man's horror" films and much different from what we have come to expect to see in similar American movies. All move slowly - at times painfully slowly - but the subject matter is just as stomach-churning as any splatterfest. I found all three engrossing (pun intended) but with unsatisfying conclusions of varying degrees. <i>Box</i> is the slowest of the lot yet its densely mysterious tale left the greatest impression. I have wanted to get my first taste of Miike, and <i>Box</i> demonstrates a masterly skill of composition and unusual storytelling. <i>Dumplings</i> is probably the most unsettling, and <i>Cut</i> the most graphically violent. Reflecting upon them a few days later I'm tempted to increase my rating, but for now feel I should stick with my first considered evaluation as the distance has softened the borderline-oppressive pacing. I would recommend it to those wanting to see something cerebral in the horror genre, especially the haunting <i>Box.</i> Furthermore, I'm still trying to figure out all the endings which is a reliable indicator of substance.

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