Netflix’s Extraction – An Entertaining Streaming Blockbuster (Early Review)

In times like these, we need a blockbuster to distract us. With the majority of movie theatres shut down, Netflix is here with their own action blockbuster type film (the Russo brothers are executive producers anyway) Extraction. This distinction will become pretty clear early on as there definitely was plenty of money thrown at this one. The film seems to put its budget to good use. It may be big an over-the-top but it never truly lost control and fell of the rails, unlike Netflix’s previous action blockbuster, the dreadful 6 Underground. Though the film wasn’t necessarily without its own problems, they were far lesser in comparison (though the bar wasn’t all that high to begin with). For the most part, the film does what it sets out to do which was to keep us entertained and on the edge of our seats across its nearly 2 hour running time.

Extraction follows a rugged mercenary named Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) over the course of his most dangerous task to date, rescuing the kidnapped son of a imprisoned drug lord Ovi Mahajan Sr. (Pankaj Tripathi). Rake was a man who had seen some things and been through some things, all while having the scars to prove it. He was also a man broken down by tragedy who found solace in his work, hinting at a troubled past. What seemed like just another job for him and his team was obviously nothing but as he would find himself in the middle of a war between rival drug lords in India and Bangladesh, Mahajan Sr. and Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli). Of course there was more to this story, as there always is. Saving Ovi Mahajan Jr. (Jaiswal) was just the beginning as he and Rake found themselves in the middle of a warzone, evading Asif’s forces and whoever else may be under his control.

The action was certainly fast-paced and unrelenting, keeping up with the characters. The camerawork and editing was also up to the task in creating some exciting sequences and set pieces (give or take some shotty CGI). While the action was arguably on the stupid side at times, there was just something satisfying about seeing Rake take down all the indiscriminate bad guys with relative ease thanks to some dynamic fight choreography. Extraction has an R rating for a reason, earning it with plenty of violence, but surprisingly not much of the over-the-top variety, and some salty language. What ultimately grounded the film was the relationship between Tyler and Ovi who were fun to watch thanks to their great chemistry. Though their relationship was contentious at first, their subsequent time together would lead their relationship to evolve as Tyler saw Ovi as more of a person and less as a job. As the situation became increasingly dire, that fact was important as it fueled Tyler’s motivation. Meanwhile, stay tuned until the end of the film.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the best part of Extraction was Hemsworth’s electric performance as Rake. While many know him as Thor, many will not be ready to see him like this. Hemsworth indisputably looks the part and also holds his own with the physicality of the role, his natural charisma is what ties it all together. He was also given some depth with Rake, which the film could have explored further, and he handled that too. Jaiswal was good as Ovi, avoiding being dead weight while holding his own alongside Hemsworth. Meanwhile, Harbour stood out in a criminally small supporting role as Gaspar, one of Rake’s former acquaintances.

At the end of the day, Extraction was an exciting action film that should sufficiently scratch that blockbuster itch until movie theatres open.

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.