Extended Overview
Extraction is an American action-thriller filmed in 2020, written by Joe Russo and directed by a debutant Sam Hargrave. The movie features Chris Hemsworth acting as a relentless black market mercenary who is given the job of saving the child of a crime lord who was kidnapped. The film was released on Netflix on April 24, 2020 and it is praised for the visuals, gripping narrative, and well-choreographed action scenes.
Rake, is given the task of saving Ovi Mahajan Jr. who is around 15 years of age and goes missing due to abduction from a powerful drug lord of India. His father, Ovi Mahajan Sr. (Pankaj Tripathi) is a well-known menace for his crimes who gets intertwined with a Bangladeshi mafia leader named Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli).
Rake’s adventure leads him to Dhaka in Bangladesh, where he manages to find and save Ovi Jr. Nonetheless, with every second the operation becomes more and more dangerous due to lies and deception that unfolds. Rake and Ovi are left out in an A-Grade filthy city full of enemies and defected police and army officers working under the power Asif holds. Assisting them is Nik who is Rake’s handler and Saju, a devoted companion to Ovi Sr. but with his own set of aims.
While Rake begins his mission, he must ultimately come to terms with his own demons and seeks atonement, leading to his personal standoff on a bridge outside the city.
Cast and Characters
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake: A mercenary who has seen too many battles and suffered too many personal losses while trying to heal his fractured soul on a treacherous quest.
Rudhraksh Jaiswal as Ovi Mahajan Jr.: An abducted child – the naive progeny of a notorious drug dealer, whose snatching sets the sordid tale in motion.
Randeep Hooda as Saju: Ovi Sr.’s trusted lieutenant who, to save his own family, is determined to rescue Ovi Jr. at any cost.
Golshifteh Farahani as Nik Khan: Tim’s quick-witted collaborator in charge of the extraction operation.
Pankaj Tripathi as Ovi Mahajan Sr.: A father of Ovi Jr., who sits behind bars as an Indian drug lord.
Priyanshu Painyuli as Amir Asif: An unscrupulous Bangladeshi syndicate head who masterminded the abduction of Ovi Jr.
David Harbour as Gaspar: An ex-comrade of Rake’s who lives in Dhaka and has hidden motives.
Production and Direction
Sam Hargrave’s directorial debut came with Extraction, a film heavily based on his work as a stunt coordinator for various film projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe HARV. The movie takes inspiration from “Ciudad”, a graphic novel written by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González and Eric Skillman. The Russo brothers best known for directing Avengers: Endgame, were Executive producers of the film and Joe Russo was also the screenplay writer.
The filming started in November 2018 in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, India and then later moved to Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand to stand as Dhaka. The series is known for several of its bold, cinematic and action-packed scenes, like the 12-minute take that sought to place audiences in the thick of transcendent battle.
Themes and Analysis
- Redemption and Sacrifice
Among the many failures throughout his life, a goal that Tyler Rake set out to conquer is redemption in regards to his son’s death. He singlehandedly embodies the core themes of personal sacrifice by risking it all for Ovi Jr., thus further seeking his desired redemption.
- Moral Ambiguity
The film breaks into the center of the moral relativism and the criminal world, showing how characters with criminal backgrounds could be intensely loyal and honorable.
- Survival and Resilience
With the odds overshadowing them, the protagonists of Extraction strive to defy all odds and survive within a world filled with dangers. The movie highlighted the sheer will of the protagonists to survive within a hostile urban setting.
Critical Reception
The film was received mixed reviews and some positive feedback. The critics who were fond of the film pointed out its action sequences as well as Hemworth’s portrayal of the character and performance in general. Some, however, acknowledged the overpromise of the film’s narrative. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the approval rating is 67%. The consensus states, “Extraction’s violence is aimless, spectacular stunt work and an electric performance from Chris Hemsworth, makes up for the aimless action.”
There was also constructive criticism that focused on the ‘white savior’ narrative and the depiction of Bangladesh with the conflict through a western lens.
Sequel
Following the success of Extraction, the sequel, “Extraction 2” was released. Chris Hemsworth resumes the role of Tyler Rake while Sam Hargrave direct the film with Joe Russo as the screenwriter. Rake further proceeds with his perilous quest into the life of mercenaries. The sequel premiered on Netflix on June 16, 2023.
Conclusion \n \nExtraction marks itself as a visceral action thriller crediting it’s plot with character development which fuses well with its intense set pieces. Arguably, the film can be compared to other action films, however, its performance and direction makes an engagement for fervent action viewers.