Netflix’s ‘Extraction’ turns violent action into art [trailer]

If you need any ideas on how to fill your days now that you’re stuck at home, you’ve come to the right place. Netflix’s Extraction is currently taking the world by storm, and it’s not hard to see why.

Sam Hargrave directed The Netflix Original. Hargrave is best known for his collaborations with the Russo brothers, most notably in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hargrave worked as stunt coordinator on Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame. Other than directing Extraction, he also portrayed James Basciogne in the 2017 film, Atomic Blonde.

Turning action into art

Stuntman-turned-director Hargrave said in a recent interview with Fast Company’s KC Ifeanyi that he ingested action sequences “like a drug”. Hargrave explains:

“I just wanted to be the white Jackie Chan, truthfully. He started as a stuntman and then he’d write, direct, act. He did everything.”

Hargrave adds that “you can only kick and punch in so many ways”. Thus, to create a masterpiece, to create something unique, it depends on how the scenes are captured.

The camera is another character in Hargrave’s opinion, showing not only the fight scene, but also how the characters you are investing time in, got to that point in their story.

“How do you capture it and from what perspective are you telling the story? […] Because action without story is just action for the sake of action, which I never want to do”.

Extraction on Netflix: What you need to know

Watch: Extraction trailer

Netflix original: Extraction Plot

Extraction follows a fearless black market mercenary named Tyler Rake, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth who is also known as Thor in the Avengers series, and Agent H in Men In Black International.

Rake embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.

But, and there’s always but, in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible, forever altering the lives of Rake and the boy.

Extraction crew

Anthony and Joe Russo produced the film, along with Mike Larocca under their AGBO Films banner. In addition, Hemsworth produced for his own shingle Thematic Entertainment with Ben Grayson as co-producer.

Producing credits also go to Eric Gitter (Atomic Blonde), Patrick Newall (The Old Man & the Gun) and AGBO Film’s Ari Costa will executive produce.

“I’m honoured to be working with a talent like Chris Hemsworth and to continue my collaboration with Joe and Anthony Russo, who have been great mentors of mine. We have a great cast in David Harbour plus Randeep Hooda and Manoj Bajpayee, two of the most respected actors on the Indian subcontinent, as well as the extremely talented Golshifteh Farahani.”

Sam Hargrave.

Extraction Cast

Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, Rudraksh Jaiswal as Ovi, David Harbour, Pankaj Tripathi, Randeep Hooda ,Marc Donato, Fay Masterson, Derek Luke, Priyanshu Painyulli, Golshifteh Farahani, as well as Adam Bessa

The team announced the film back in August 2018 when Chris Hemsworth joined the cast, but the rest of the cast and crew joined the team in November 2018.

Production began in November 2018 and filming took place in Ahmedabad and Mumbai; as well as Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, Thailand and plate shots in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Final thoughts

Extraction reminds me of a game I once played, perhaps on PlayStation 3 (PS3) many moons ago; the memory feels vague.

Do you want to see Chris Hemsworth do a role justice? Do you want a proper skop-skiet-en-donner action film? Then, yes, Extraction is for you.

Is it a white-savior film? Yes, yes it is. Unfortunately.

Finally, production wrapped up in February 2020. Extraction premieres worldwide on Friday, 24 April 2020.

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