Extraction is Pure Action Cinema
Extraction. Image courtesy of Netflix.
Extraction, the Netflix thriller starring Chris Hemsworth, is an action flick pure and simple. Whenever it tries to dip into unfamiliar territory - such as dialogue, plot, acting or character development - it really does itself no favors. For instance we are to understand that Chris Hemsworth is a good guy because he only lightly maims a gang of kids instead of killing them. The whole thing is also problematic in the way it depicts Dhaka and why does the main character have to be a strapping white Australian man? But on the other hand this film is simply an excuse to stage elaborate action set pieces, and on that count it delivers.
I was not at all surprised to learn that director Sam Hargrave was the stunt coordinator for Captain America: Civil War, and that he has a long history with the Russo Brothers. Their stunt team is what elevated those Marvel movies, especially the Captain America ones, from fun boilerplate stuff to the real deal and the action work in Extraction is amazing.
Well, most of it. There is an extended sequence in the first half of the film that is pure kinetic fun. It takes us on an extended tour through Dhaka streets using long takes, innovate camera work (with the camera swooping in and out of cars for instance), clean action and choreography and clear blocking. You always know where everyone and everything is and the use of the space makes sense, which allows the for quick cuts and pans that surprise and shock and look great but also follow some kind of logic. It’s a master class in how to stage complex, interesting action cleanly.
As an action sequence, it is great. Later, when David Harbour and Chris Hemsworth are rolling around in a living room, it falls back much more on the typical American action film style using lots of edits and cuts to hide the fact that, I think, they aren’t using stunt doubles. Comparing that sequence with the mad dash through the city from earlier is an interesting study in contrasts and how action set pieces and sequences are often constructed around certain limitations imposed by the filmmaking process. The David Harbour fight is a lot less interesting to watch.
Other than action spectacle, this movie has little to offer. It’s entire reason for being starts and stops at spectacle, like The Night Comes for Us. If you scratch at the surface even a tiny bit, the whole thing will come apart - like at the end when the entire plan falls apart because the good guys failed to consider the possibility that someone might, you know, have a sniper rifle. But these things are just so much applesauce, washed over by the cacophony of a well-made action flick and if that’s your jam then you will enjoy this film.
