EXTRACTION (R)
What “Extraction” lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in expertly crafted action
Looking for something uptempo, nonstop, and ultra-violent to watch while at home? If so, then Netflix has got you covered with the new Chris Hemsworth-headlined action thriller, “Extraction.” Truth be told, there isn’t anything entirely new about the overall plot here, but what “Extraction” lacks in originality, it makes up for in pace, performances, and stunningly conceived action sequences.
In “Extraction,” Hemsworth is Tyler Rake (gotta love that seemingly perfect action hero name), a broken-down, burned-out mercenary-for-hire who’s offered a chance at redemption when he’s hired to locate and retrieve a kidnapped boy (Rudhraksh Jaiswal) who just so happens to be the son of an imprisoned international drug lord. Throughout his deadly mission, Rake must fight off a Bangladeshi crime lord and his callous army, local authorities, and a mysterious foe in the kind of blood-soaked action we’d get just about every weekend in the 80s.
Truth be told, “Extraction” isn’t all gunfire, fights, and bloodshed. Screenwriter Joe Russo (half of the sibling team that brought us the last two “Avengers” movies) does bring some weight to the proceedings by not only presenting a hero with a fractured soul but also by offering up a surprisingly effective bond between this broken soldier and a young boy caught in a world he doesn’t really want to be a part of. Further still, while “Extraction” is a big bombastic action movie, it doesn’t shy away from provocative themes. It doesn’t shy away from shocking brutality, either, presenting a world where kids can be just as vicious as the adults on the battlefield.
As directed by Sam Hargrave (an expert stunt coordinator by trade having had a hand in “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Atomic Blonde”), “Extraction” is pretty non-stop in the action department and it’s clear that this man knows his business. There’s nothing choppy, confusing, or unclear in terms of action mechanics and geography. It’s all expertly staged and you can feel every bullet, explosion, and punch. If you’re looking for a frame of reference, it’s the kind of action that you might expect from the likes of Gareth Evans (“The Raid,” “The Raid 2”) or David Leitch (“John Wick,” “Atomic Blonde.”) Look no further than a breathtaking 12-minute long uninterrupted shot in which Rake tries to navigate through a thug infested building in the slums of Dhaka with a young boy by his side. This breathtaking sequence is as terrifying as it is exhausting.
As for the cast, you could do a lot worse than having a guy like Hemsworth headline your action movie. While he has the physicality to pull this stuff off in spades, he also offers up the prerequisite vulnerability. He’s more than a superhero. He’s a man looking to make up for past mistakes. It’s the kind of thing we’ve seen countless times in movies, but I’ll be darned if Hemsworth doesn’t fit the bill. Further still, he’s complemented by a more than capable supporting cast. Young Jaiswal is terrific as a boy caught between a rock and a hard place and for all the carnage in this picture, he’s left to make one of the toughest decisions in the entire movie. What’s more, he’s so good here that we want to believe he’s the type of kid who won’t follow in his father’s unsavory footsteps. Additionally, Randeep Hooda brings real dramatic weight to the table as a rival mercenary with his own agenda while a winning David Harbour of “Stranger Things” is terrific as a tough-as-nails ally who aids Rake in his mission.
Listen, there are aspects of “Extraction” that are predictable, rudimentary, and generic and true, we’ve seen the broken down soldier bit many times before, but as an action movie, this is a beautifully executed piece of exhilarating (and violent) entertainment. It moves at a brisk clip from beginning to end and overall, two things are abundantly clear; Firstly, you’ll be in Rake’s corner throughout. Secondly, you’ll want to see the assholes in this picture get what’s coming to them. Mission accomplished.
