Extraction (2020)

One of my favourite directors is a former stuntman (Gareth Evans). The profession has been producing more and more directors. I think there is something about the role which gives you good training for directing. But that doesn't mean every stuntman is going to be a great director. In this case Marvel Universe stuntman Sam Hargrave makes his feature debut with this rather standard action film. He shows us he has a good eye for impressive visuals and incredible action sequences. Not sure it says much else.

Extraction is a very cliched film. Self-destructive hero who has seen too much of the dark side of humanity is called into save the kidnapped child of a rich gangster and he finds his humanity in saving the child. Yes this story has been told so many times before. Here the point seems to be as obvious about things as possible. The film's script hands you everything you need to know and need to feel in telling this story. Characters tell you exactly their feelings and motivations every chance they get. This is a film that doesn't require any thinking. There won't be a twist you don't see coming. I see the appeal of that, well on a limited basis.

Chris Hemsworth is here to look tough and stay exactly within his wheel house. The role is "gritty" in a predictable, two-dimensional way so it feels perhaps a bit more of a stretch then his Thor part. Hemsworth is a decent enough actor to pull this off and does fine with what the film gives him.

Where the film works is the action and visual. It is a striking film to watch. The action is amazing and the film looks beautiful. I mean it when I say the action in this film makes it worth the watch. The film is fairly brutal and violent so be prepared for that. There just isn't a lot beyond that. A film like this can rise to higher levels through a number of techniques such as creative world building that invests us in the backstories of the characters or morality analogies making comments on issues that arise through its plot but the film doesn't really do any of that. It sticks to its all too basic story and fills it with predictable but glorious action set pieces.

I'm not exactly sure if it's the writing or the direction which is so sleight. Avengers Endgame director Joe Russo wrote this and it feels like it has his flashy but perhaps insubstantial touch. Plus the film doesn't truly wrestle well with its white savior themes, but again this is par for the course with this sort of action film. There are few moments where the film even tries to be anything but a cliche.Fortunately it is easy to forget that when you're lost in the incredible set pieces. They are top notch and show a lot of potential for perhaps a better written movie.

So if escapism is all you want, Extraction isn't a waste of time. Just don't expect anything more.

Extraction
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, David Harbour, Sam Hargrave
Director: Sam Hargrave
Writer: Joe Russo