exte

Exte, also known as Exte: Hair Extensions (エクステ), is a 2007 Japanese horror film written and directed by Sion Sono. The film draws on urban legends surrounding cursed hair extensions and uses them to explore themes of beauty, consumer culture, and bodily transformation within a satirical yet visceral horror framework.

The story centers on characters connected to a hairstyling world who encounter a mysterious hair extension that houses a parasitic entity. As the extension attaches to its hosts, it exerts control and incites violent, predatory behavior. The narrative follows those who become entangled with the extension and their efforts to stop the threat and protect others from a spreading danger rooted in vanity and the commodification of appearance.

Exte is noted for its blend of practical effects, visual inventiveness, and a willingness to push graphic material into the realm of social commentary. Its style blends body horror with elements of dark humor and surreal imagery, characteristic of Sono’s approach to provocative subject matter. The film situates personal anxieties about appearance within a broader critique of the beauty industry and modern societal pressures.

Release and reception information indicate that Exte was released in Japan in 2007 and garnered mixed to positive reactions from critics, with praise often directed at its audacious concept and striking visuals, while some reviewers criticized its graphic intensity. Over time, Exte has achieved a cult status among fans of Japanese horror and is recognized for contributing to Sion Sono’s international profile as a filmmaker who challenges conventional genre boundaries.