Sam Hargrave's "EXTRACTION 2"
Reviewed by Dennis D. McDonald
"This Would Sharpen You Up And Make You Ready For A Bit Of The Old Ultra-Violence." Alex in Kubricks’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
It's impossible not to acknowledge the skill and effort that went into making this gritty action thriller. The extended battle sequences, such as the impossibly prolonged train scene, are jaw-dropping. Even the urban skyscraper-bound chases and fistfights are surprisingly original, visceral, and gripping—despite being staged in a strangely deserted Vienna.
Add to this the constant brooding physicality of Chris Hemsworth as he leads yet another impossible rescue mission (see Extraction for the first one), and you have all the ingredients for an explosive, loud cinematic experience.
However, the violence is nonstop and, in most cases, stretches believability. The "good guys" get shot, blown up, and thrown off buildings—yet somehow, they keep going when mere mortals would have succumbed long ago. (It brings to mind the old Timex commercial: "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!")
In lesser hands, the sheer ridiculousness of this over-the-top, nonstop action might have become boring and repetitive. But thanks to director Sam Hargrave's steady hand, superb choreography and editing, and an excellent cast led by Hemsworth, these elements somehow elevate this relentless mayhem beyond a typical shoot-'em-up video game.
That is, if you’re into this sort of thing, of course.
Review copyright 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald