Extraction

Details: MPAA Rating: R

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Randeep Hooda, David Harbour, Rudhraksh Jaiswal

Release Date: April 24, 2020

Pros: Chris Hemsworth's second post-Endgame film features him playing a brutal mercenary tasked with saving an Indian drug lord's kidnapped son from another drug lord in Bangladesh. With Sam Hargrave, expert stuntman known for his stunt choreography in Atomic Blonde, the Hunger Game Franchise, and The Avengers, taking the director's wheel for the first time, the expectations for this film in terms of the plot wasn't high. Thankfully, ten minutes into the film, it was clear that this movie wasn't made to be plot-driven. What Extraction lacks in plot, it makes up for in brilliant, brutal, action sequences. With scenes such as men getting impaled with an actual rake and Hemsworth using a body to hit another body, viewers are captivated and constantly at the edge of their seat with Extraction. Hargrave shows off his extensive knowledge in how to make a raw action sequence and places numerous of these all throughout the film. To accompany the action is the camera work which was done equally as well. From a car chase to a helicopter crash, the camera work was masterfully done showing every angle of the mass destruction caused in a mere 2-hour film. Not only was the action and camera work done superbly, Hemsworth's performance as the gritty mercenary Tyler Rake was portrayed excellently. While his performance level was expected, the film is also carried by the pleasantly surprising performance of the novel actor Rudhraksh Jaiswal who plays Ovi, the drug lord's kidnapped son. The dynamic between Hemsworth and Jaiswal made me, as the viewer, emotionally invested in the duo in a way that surprised me. Finally, the antagonistic drug lord Amir Asif was portrayed in a menacing fashion that made the movie that much more tense.

Cons: While the expectations for the plot weren't held that high, there were many avoidable plot holes that felt like the producers and the director skimmed over hoping the viewers wouldn't notice. While this wouldn't have been that big of a problem normally, this takes away from the realism and grittiness this movie was going for which makes it seem more like a superhero movie than a John Wick type movie.

Star Rating: 7.5/10

Final Thoughts: Extraction is gritty, raw, and brutal in everything from the camera work to the action sequences. Carried by a superb performance from the cast and a surprising emotional punch, quarantine seemed a little bit more enjoyable for 2 hours.