When it comes to crazy, balls-to-the-wall action, one franchise that seems to be able to go toe-to-toe with John Wick is Extraction. This sequel sees the return of stuntman Sam Hargrave in the director’s seat, bringing back Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake for a new mission that’s bigger and better in every way.
The comparisons between Extraction 2 and John Wick are unavoidable, but here’s where Extraction 2 is able to excel in a different manner to the John Wick films. John Wick’s action sequences are all heavily stylised, both visually and in terms of choreography. They’re very flashy, utilising an arsenal of unconventional weapons and filmed to be very slick and fluid. On the other hand, Extraction 2’s approach to action is a lot more brutal and gritty – it’s intentionally messy and filmed with extreme close-ups and shaky cam to emphasise the chaotic desperation of every punch. This isn’t saying one is better than the other, rather it creates a unique point of difference that sets the two franchises on different paths within the same corner of the action genre.
Now, focusing more on this film – it’s packed with top quality action that never fails to blow you away with a riveting sense of excitement. The reason you click play is for the action, and the writers know that, fast-tracking the narrative to get us into the thick of it as quickly as possible. From start to finish there are brilliantly brutal and thoroughly entertaining action sequences that each build on the grit and desperation, but none are more mesmerising and memorable as the ‘oner’.
Early on, there’s a whopping 21-minute sequence filmed in such a way that it looks like one continuous shot, hence the term ‘oner’. This scene is a breathtaking work of art that’s flawlessly edited with well-hidden cuts that give the illusion this was all orchestrated in a day’s work. Just when you think it’s done, it keeps going and going, upping the ante with every passing minute. What makes the sequence so exceptional is not only that it’s a mixture of stealth, fist fights, close-quarters gun combat, large shootouts and a wild car chase sequence, but that it shifts locations too. It starts in location A, moves through location B and culminates in location C, ensuring it’s always adding something fresh and never becoming exhausting. It’s exciting and intense, with exceptional stunts and some great, violent kills. That’s not all the film has to offer – there’s a number of other ‘more conventional’ action sequences throughout that add to the excitement.
The core narrative is enough to guide the characters from one action scene to the next, and hence it’s very simple and straightforward. There’s certainly room in here for a deeper, more emotion-driven narrative, or perhaps some wide-scale world building, but that’s not the route the writers have taken. There are hints of a bigger picture, but it feels more like a simple sequel tease as oppose to the introduction of any grand storytelling plans. The arcs of our returning characters, Nik (Golshifteh Farahani) and Yaz (Adam Bessa), make the non-action scenes quite engaging – they’re solid characters and are great to watch in every moment. Then about 3/4 of the way into the film there’s a new character who suddenly pops up for a quick scene or two, and it felt like a very odd inclusion. The actor behind the role is great, but their scenes hardly make an impact – perhaps it’s an out-of-place sequel tease.
Chris Hemsworth is the star of the show – he commits himself to every scene, regardless of whether he’s throwing hands or dishing out quality dialogue with co-stars. It’s hard to know how many of the stunts were performed by Hemsworth, but it looked like all if not most were him. As is expected, he kicks ass and plays the brutal side of the character really well, while also hitting the occasional lighthearted, touching note at the same time. Speaking of kicking ass, Golshifteh Farahani steps it up a notch this time around and contributes to most of the fast-paced action scenes. She’s very believable in the role and successfully brings one of the film’s most interesting characters to life.
In the end, if there’s one thing Extraction 2 reinforces, it’s that having a stuntman in the director’s seat is capable of revolutionising the quality of the action and stunts. Headlined by an insane 21-minute one-shot consisting of multiple action set-pieces all weaved together seamlessly, the action is a sight to behold. The brutality and violence is at a high, making this a perfect watch for anyone in the market for pure action entertainment. The narrative is serviceable – but let’s be real, no one is watching Extraction 2 for a game-changing story.
8.6/10
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