10 Fantastic Asian Horror Films You Must See Before You Die

8. Three... Extremes (2004)

06.03.2013extremes I have included Three Extremes because it is a nifty cross-Asia Portmanteau film featuring three films from different countries in Asia - Dumplings, directed by Fruit Chan (Hong Kong), Cut, directed by Park Chan-Wook (S Korea) and Box, directed by Takashi Miike (Japan). In Dumplings, an actress is terrified that she is getting old and losing her looks. She goes for a cure to a woman who cooks her dumplings which contain a remarkable rejuvenation ingredient. The ingredient is sinister but the actress will do anything to retain her youth. In Cut, a psychotic extra from a film set holds the director and his wife hostage while he forces them to play sadistic games. He chops off the wife's fingers every five minutes if they do not comply. In Box, a young woman has repetitive dreams of being buried in the snow. She comes to realise that these may be associated with her missing sister. Made by three of the biggest directing talents in Asia, Three Extremes is a masterpiece of Asian horror, stylishly directed with tremendous visual flourish. The three films look beautiful and are extremely good fun to watch - each one reflecting the culture of the director's own country. Dumplings (which was later extended into a feature film) is the most controversial and the sound effects of the actress chowing down on aborted foetuses is truly stomach churning. These films are intelligent and make the viewer think. There is not a whole load of bloody violence (although Cut is rather sadistic) nor is this a slasher movie with idiotic teens getting carved up. It is far more intellectual than that and really showcases the fact that Asia is where all of the most original horror films are being produced today.
 
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My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!