15 Best Anthology Horror Film Segments

15. Box (Three… Extremes, 2004)

Takashi Miike's Box tells the story of Kyoko, who had performed in a double act alongside her twin sister, Shoko, when they were children. Kyoko grew up in her sister's shadow, and was neglected in her favour by their guardian and mentor. On a jealous impulse, she shut Shoko inside a box to frighten her, which subsequently caught fire. Now a reclusive adult, the traumas of her past have inevitably come back to haunt her.

Miike's contribution to this much acclaimed multi-national Asian anthology is by far the strongest of the three stories. While the preceding two, Fruit Chan's Dumplings and Chan-Wook Park's Cut, rely on shock value or black humour, Box is a mood-driven piece. The sets, costumes and use of colour in Box are stunning, and the overall atmosphere of the segment is truly haunting.

The big twist ending and certain ambiguities of the plot don't sit well with a lot of people on first viewing, and a common complaint is that the surrealism is overdone and takes you out of the story. Don't pay any mind to these criticisms; it's a chilling segment and a thoroughly rewarding watch.