Movie Review:Extraction 2

It's April 2020 and COVID-19's stealthy buildup into a pandemic had thrown the world into a compulsory lockdown. Stuck indoors, there wasn't much to do but to Netflix and chill.

That’s when Netflix first served its starter in its budding franchise menu. An uninspired and flaccidly-scripted action movie redeemed only by its ferociously-choreographed close quarter fight scenes and car chase sequences which ended with a did-he-or-did-he-not-die cliffhanger.

It’s been three years and that non-question is answered from the opening scene of the entree sequel which makes short order of the anti-hero protagonist, Tyler Rakes’s recovery from his injuries.

Sufficiently recovered, his next mission is served up: to extract his ex-wife’s sister and her two kids from the cavernous bowels of a Georgian prison where her imprisoned spouse, one-half of a psychotic sibling drug lord and gunrunner duo, has pulled clout to have them close by while he serves time there.

Here, former stunt coordinator turned director, Stuart Hargrave, served up a sure-to-be memorable prison break sequence that hits all the right palates in the sheer deliciousness of its ferocious violence iconically potmarked by two standout scenes where Tyler Rake’s flaming arm throws punches in a free- for-all prison riot and shortly after taking a brick to the back of his head, he grabs a glass shield from a prison guard and does carnage with it.

From here on out, Extraction 2 straps you in and takes you on a viscerally satisfying rollercoaster ride through close quarter black SUV chase sequences, in-your-face, POV and over-the-shoulder camera-angle fist and knife fights in a speeding train and a tingling skyscraper glass-awning cliffhanger fight scene.

Intermittently, it tempers the delicious ferociousness of its stunt servings with emotional subplots that the viewer never truly cares for as the creatively mindless violence is filling enough.

Extraction 2 is an impressive and more satisfying entree after its rather bland (albeit mildy impressive) 2020 starter. Whilst this sequel does succeed in extracting a commitment from the viewer to leave room for dessert (already hinted at the movie’s end), let this not be confused for a craving for a full on all-you-can-eat buffet gorgefest (*side eye to the Fast and Furious franchise*) 7/10