Extraction 2 is the sequel to “One of Netflix’s most watched movies ever,” Extraction. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a mercenary for hire, tasked with… well… extracting people from dangerous places. The first film saw Tyler save an imprisoned crime lord’s son from kidnappers. Everything was cool and slick and very similar to other modern action flicks, in a good way. In this film, Tyler is tasked with helping a gangster’s family out of a Georgian prison.
What follows is pure pandemonium. Non-stop, balls to the wall, never ending intense action is exactly what this doctor ordered and by George, he got it. As always, spoilers are ahead, if you care, but if not then let us get this show on the road.
Extraction 2 Negatives: Characters and Story
Extraction is a very exciting franchise. As of now the biggest complaint I have with the franchise is the complete lack of anything emotionally worth investing in. At the end of both films, I thought about how regardless of whether Tyler dies or not, nothing will change for me.
Despite the small emotional moments that bring all characters slightly closer together, every moment not spent shooting or fighting is another second spent waiting for another fight.
Do not get me wrong, we absolutely need those small conversations that reveal whatever emotion everyone is feeling. It keeps a nice flow to the story, gives us a minute to breathe, and humanizes everyone for a minute. I do not generally expect to feel anything during scenes like this within movies like this, but having something to actually care about is the only thing that holds this movie back for me.
Chris Hemsworth fighting through a prison escape in the Netflix original film Extraction 2. Image provided courtesy of Netflix Studios.
Negatives Continued: Story
Caring for the characters and having an interesting plot are the biggest gripes I have with Extraction 2. The “will stop at nothing and will fight through any injury” character troupe is getting a little stale.
Characters like Tyler, that will break bones, but will also get their ass kicked are really cool and feel slightly more grounded than untouchable murder machines. With that said, as awesome as the fight choreography is, I want to see Tyler in a greater physical struggle than cleaning house every time.
All of this lack of a real struggle leads back into the deficiency of emotional depth. I want to like these characters so bad, but there is nothing really keeping me here aside from the violence.
One final thing I have been wanting to scream about this entire time is the protagonist’s name: Tyler Rake. That name is dumb and I can never take it seriously when someone says “Tyler” in a fatal situation. It is a very silly name. Having a title like Extraction is already a bit strange to me. Although the title of these films are ultimately about… well… extracting people, that to me is a good justification. Naming your protagonist “Tyler Rake” is never something that can really be justified. Again, it is such a silly name.
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, extracting a family from a dangerous prison in the Netflix original film Extraction 2. Image provided courtesy of Netflix Studios.
Extraction 2 Positives: Action, Action, & More Action
Good gravy, this is ridiculous. I mean this in the nicest way possible: this movie is so stupid. Bullets, bones, and bodies fly everywhere and it rules. Like I said, this movie is heavily lacking in any kind of emotional gravitas. However, what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for in spectacle.
The film features a 20 minute long uninterrupted take of a prison escape. The ludicrous fluency and ferocity of everything is so tight and nonstop that it becomes very overwhelming at times, but nevertheless still remains ridiculously entertaining.
At the end of the day that is really all I need out of a movie like Extraction 2: entertainment. I don’t think this movie takes itself too seriously and it avoids veering off into some other cliche troupes we see a lot of today. Witty quips, send-off lines, catchphrases, etc. are all thankfully left out here. Do not tell me a joke while you are escaping prison. That ruins the vibes. Thankfully the tone, the flow, and the pacing of every scene is steady, consistent, and cool.
Golshifteh Farahani as Nik Khan and Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake in the Netflix original film Extraction 2. Image provided courtesy of Netflix Studios.
Extraction 2 by Sam Hargrave
Coming into this franchise I had very low expectations. Unfortunately, those expectations were also low for Chris Hemsworth as an action star. Luckily, I am happy to report that as dumb as the name “Tyler Rake” is and along with every other issue I previously mentioned, it is not enough for me to call Extraction 2 bad. There really is not much for me to say about Extraction 2 and that is okay. It is no John Wick, but Extraction 2 is brutal and slick. Extraction 2 is a 6/10.
