EXTRACTION 2

US, 2023, 122 minutes, Colour.

Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Tornike Gogrichiani, Tornnike Nziava, Idris Elba, Olga Kurylenko,

Directed by Sam Hargrave.

Extraction has a painful tone about the word. Most of us go immediately to memories or imagination of the dentist chair! But, popular action films remind us that there are many, many people trapped in situations and they need extraction.

The first film, directed by Sam Hargrave, featuring Chris Hemsworth as a somewhat disillusioned mercenary was enormously popular on Netflix. With so many more people needing to be extracted, and the original’s popularity, it was inevitable that there would be Extraction II. And, that is most of the action – followed by the extracted family being set up securely but, of course, the enemy informed and a siege ensuing.

A lot of action, a lot of hand-to-hand fighting, a large body count, and bloggers declaring that this exercise in extraction is better than the first.

Sam Hargrave returns as the director. Chris Hemsworth starts off wounded, falling into a river, rescued, hospital, a lot of regaining strength. Than a visit from the mysterious agent, played by Idris Elba, initiates the next extraction. The audience has seen members of a Georgian family, powerful and brutal, with the main cast of villains actors from Georgia itself. There is a prison, a felon holding his wife and children hostage in the prison, the details of the extraction with lots of action. And Chris Hemsworth, popular action hero, is aided by an agent, Nik, played by Golshifteh Farahani, along with her brother, played by Adam Bessa. They certainly get involved in the action as well.

One of the more interesting aspects of the drama is the role of the young boy, admiring his thuggish father, held hostage with his mother and sister in the prison, dismayed at his father’s death, the cause of further pursuit and violence, even to the demand that he shoot Chris Hemsworth. This gives some more energy and a touch of originality to the screenplay.

There are family complications with Chris Hemsworth and his wife and her relationship to the imprisoned family. She is played by Olga Kurylenko. And, just as we were waiting for the final credits, Idris Elba turns up again. No major reason not to have Extraction III.

1. The popularity of Extraction? Chris Hemsworth, the character of Tyler, the mercenary, burned-out, strong in action?
2. Popular demand for a sequel, bringing the character back, his injuries, falling into the water, hospitalisation, gradual recovery?
3. the introduction to the criminal families in Georgia, the farm, the brothers, the brother in prison, the wife and children confined to the prison?
4. Tyler, recovery, in retirement, Austria, alone, enjoying the solitude?
5. Nik, her brother, involved in the operations, helping Tyler and his recovery?
6. The visit of the agent, the discussions with Tyler, the situation, his being hired, agreeing? His meeting with Nik and Yaz, the brother and sister working together?
7. The jail situation, the brother, anger with his wife, her being confined, his son, grooming him to be part of the family, the young daughter? The prison situation, the authorities, tough?
8. The bulk of the film as the mission, Tyler and his leadership, the roles of Nik and Yaz, the backup, radio communication, the layout of the prison, the invasion, the rescue, the authorities, the brother and his menace, the fights with Tyler, the brother threatening his wife, Tyler shooting, the wife hitting him? The reaction of the boy? The riot in the prison, the authorities, the prisoners, the fighting, Tyler having to fight his way out, with the wife and children? The violence, the deaths, the fights, the final escape, the vehicle, helicopter?
9. The brother at the farm, the news about his brother, the bonds with the family Association, the decision to act, their equipment, the helicopters, the attacks, the firing of the helicopters? Tyler and his hiding the family?
10. The boy, his age, wanting his father, loyal to his father, being groomed for the family Association? His resentment towards Tyler? Towards his mother? His phoning his uncle, bringing them? The consequences?
11. The hiding in the building, the second round of fighting, hand-to-hand, guns, the helicopters? Nik and her being injured, hospitalisation? Yaz, his injuries, Nik caring for him, his death?
12. The boy, his regrets, his being taken by his uncle, gun to his head, Nik intervening, the upset, the fight, to the death?
13. The family reconciliation? The irony of the background of Tyler being married to the woman’s sister, the past, the child, photos? Her turning up, reconciliation with her sister, leaving Tyler? And the arrival of the agent, and the possibilities further Extractions?