Exte: Hair Extensions

Exte: Hair Extensions, a chilling Japanese horror film directed by Sion Sono, delves into the darker side of the beauty industry where the pursuit of beauty becomes an insatiable hunger. The story revolves around an aspiring hairstylist, Emiri, who becomes infatuated with Haruhiko, a soft-spoken man who runs a small business selling exquisite hair extensions to local salons. Haruhiko sources his remarkable hair from an unassuming young woman, Akane, whose corpse mysteriously continues to grow an abundance of luscious, black hair. Her hair is not just a product of nature but seems to have a life of its own. At first, the salons are thrilled to have such high-quality hair at their disposal, but it soon becomes apparent that using Akane's hair comes with a terrible price. Those who wear the hair extensions start to experience severe psychological distress, hallucinations, and eventually, they become victims of a bizarre, unnatural force that seems to emanate from Akane's dead body. Emiri's obsession with Haruhiko deepens as she witnesses the devastating effects of Akane's hair on those around her. Despite her growing unease, Emiri finds it increasingly difficult to resist Haruhiko's charms, unaware that she may be the next victim of the cursed hair. Haruhiko, on the other hand, displays a detached and almost calculating demeanor, hinting at a deeper connection to Akane's hair and its supernatural powers. As Emiri's relationship with Haruhiko deepens, she begins to uncover dark secrets surrounding the hair's origin and the tragic circumstances of Akane's death. The line between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred as Emiri's grip on sanity starts to weaken. The film expertly crafts a sense of tension, slowly ratcheting up the sense of unease as Emiri and the audience become more entwined in the dark mystery surrounding Akane's hair. Sion Sono masterfully utilizes the supernatural elements to explore themes of vanity, the commodification of beauty, and the perils of obsession. Through the lens of a small-town horror, Exte: Hair Extensions serves as a cautionary tale about the terrible price that is paid when beauty becomes an all-consuming force. In the end, Emiri must confront the devastating truth behind Akane's hair and the malevolent power that lies within, forcing her to make a choice between her own sanity and her all-consuming love for Haruhiko.