The 2005 finale in Nicolas Winding Refn's trilogy now focuses on our favorite drug supplier Milo, again played by Zlatko Buric (who essayed the same part in 2012 remake) & how he has to juggle his upcoming celebrations for his daughter while maintaining his drug business. When an expected smack supply instead shows up as ecstasy, Buric hopes to recoup his money by giving another client the drugs for him to sell in lieu of the money he owes him. While he awaits for that matter to resolve itself, he's also putting on the finishing touches w/the hall his daughter's birthday will take place at where we clearly see who wears the pants in the family as the daughter runs over him rough shod. W/the party underway, calls to the ecstasy guy go unanswered which puts Buric in a tense mood (he's also a recovering drug addict as we witness him attending meetings) which puts him in a tight corner when his own supplier encroaches upon his turf in an attempt to sell a sex trafficker's wares goes horribly wrong. Easily, for me, the best of the bunch, w/Buric's sad sack anti-hero capably finding the audience's sympathy (he may command a mini drug empire but his cooking stinks!) being the kind of man he is. Only when the film delves into the needlessly violent & distasteful scenes of typical crime depravity (a couple of bodies are carved up & disposed of by one of Buric's old running buddies) does the film go on repugnant autopilot & we wait for the more interesting character stuff to return.
Review of Pusher III
