Three…Extremes

In case there were any lingering doubts about the willingness of Asian filmmakers to stretch the boundaries of cinematic horror, Three…Extremes offers something to disturb or offend just about everyone. A sequel of sorts to the 2002 horror anthology Three, this new trio of shorts begins with the best of the bunch: Hong Kong director Fruit Chan's truncated but still remarkably effective version of his 91-minute 2004 feature film Dumplings, in which the fiery and fascinating Bai Ling stars as Aunt Mei, whose pricey dumplings have a mysterious, rejuvenating ingredient that lures women to her kitchen (body image, obsession with youth, and a wicked twist make this a potent social commentary, blessed by Christopher Doyle's cinematography). Korean director Park Chan-Wook's "Cut” is a pointlessly queasy exercise in bloody sadism, in which a disgruntled movie extra seeks revenge against a hot young film director by forcing him to make an impossible decision: strangle an innocent girl or watch, helplessly, as his pianist wife has her fingers chopped off. The third short, "Box,” is one of Japanese director Takashi Miike's most interesting pieces to date, revolving around a guilt-ridden novelist who receives a mysterious invitation to return to the snowy place where her twin sister died in a childhood accident. Although it has wonderful individual moments, Three…Extremes is aimed primarily at horror buffs with a high tolerance for unpleasantness. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Miike Takashi for “Box,” the full-length feature version of “Dumplings” (91 min.), a 15-minute “making-of” featurette for “Dumplings,” and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a so-so anthology.] (J. Shannon)