Extraction 2: Is Tyler Rake the Next Action God?
With the adrenaline rush of John Wick: Chapter 4 still fresh, Netflix has unleashed Extraction 2, quickly seizing the action movie throne. Some fans even argue that the sequel surpasses its predecessor in sheer kinetic energy and fight choreography. Could Tyler Rake, the protagonist, be poised to inherit the “Baba Yaga’s” mantle as the next action icon?
While it’s too early to make such bold claims, Extraction 2 is undeniably making waves on Netflix. Boasting a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78% and an average rating of 6.6, it’s even garnered more critical acclaim than the original.
Chris Hemsworth embodies a world-weary mercenary, a stark contrast to Keanu Reeves’ stylish assassin. As the old guard contemplates retirement, the world eagerly anticipates the rise of a new action superstar.
A Fight for Family
Extraction 2 picks up where the first film left off.
The original centered on Tyler Rake, an Australian mercenary, tasked with rescuing a drug lord’s son from the clutches of a rival gang in India. Despite betrayals and interference, Rake ultimately prioritizes compassion over cash, successfully extracting the boy.
Critically wounded, Rake plummets into a river, his fate hanging in the balance.
Extraction 2 opens with Rake’s teammate, Nik, rescuing him from the brink of death. She shelters him in a remote Austrian cabin, hoping he’ll embrace a peaceful retirement.
Rake initially resists returning to his violent past. However, when his ex-wife seeks his help to rescue her sister and children from a Georgian prison, he can’t refuse.
Similar to the first film’s structure, Extraction 2 revolves around a high-stakes rescue mission. In the original, the drug lord’s son served as a catalyst for Rake’s emotional healing, confronting his grief over his deceased son. While Rake’s nephew Sandro evokes similar emotions in the sequel, he primarily fuels the dramatic conflict.
Sandro, raised amidst his father and uncle’s criminal empire, gradually loses his moral compass. He turns a deaf ear to his father’s abuse of his mother. After learning that his mother and Rake killed his father, Sandro betrays them, ultimately returning to his uncle’s side.
Extraction 2 essentially explores the complex relationships and conflicts within Rake’s ex-wife’s family.
Compared to the first film, the sequel significantly reduces its dramatic elements, prioritizing action.
Notably, Golshifteh Farahani’s Nik plays a more prominent role, delivering impressive fight sequences, unlike her somewhat peripheral presence in the original. The Iranian actress’s performance and charisma rival Hemsworth’s, making her a standout in the film.
Longer Takes, Higher Stakes
Let’s delve into the action design and fight choreography of Extraction 2.
The first film’s standout moment was a breathtaking, ten-minute-plus long take during Rake’s rescue of the drug lord’s son. The chaotic car chase through the narrow streets of India, the tense hide-and-seek within apartment buildings, and the sudden ambushes created a visceral and unforgettable sequence.
This technique, popularized in the 21st century, reached its zenith in the Indonesian action film The Raid 2. David Leitch later incorporated it into Atomic Blonde. Even seemingly seamless long takes often consist of meticulously stitched-together segments. This immersive approach plunges the viewer into the heart of the action, mirroring the protagonist’s fear and disorientation.
In Extraction 2, the long take is amplified, lasting over twenty minutes as a toy triggers a prison riot. Rake single-handedly battles hundreds of inmates and guards while protecting his ex-sister-in-law and her children. The ensuing car chase features seamless camera transitions between the interior and exterior, highlighting the desperation of both sides. The sequence culminates with Rake atop a train, using a heavy machine gun to take down a helicopter.
Reportedly, the prison fight, where Rake’s arm catches fire, and the helicopter takedown were achieved without CGI, relying on practical effects.
In contrast to big-budget action films that often rely on rapid cuts to mask actors’ shortcomings or use CGI to create generic action sequences, Extraction 2 excels in its commitment to practical, visceral action.
The second major action sequence sees director Sam Hargrave drawing inspiration from Jackie Chan.
In a gym, Rake uses a barbell to dispatch an opponent. He then uses a cable machine to strangle another. Finally, he weaponizes a treadmill, sending an enemy crashing.
Fans of Jackie Chan’s classic action comedies will recognize the similarities to scenes from films like Project A and Rumble in the Bronx. However, Hargrave infuses the action with a brutal edge, contrasting with Chan’s comedic approach.
The final action sequence, while less visually spectacular than the previous two, takes place in a dilapidated church. The setting, combined with the complex relationships between Rake, Sandro, and the main villain, evokes the spirit of John Woo’s The Killer, another homage to Hong Kong action cinema.
A New Wave of Stuntmen-Turned-Directors?
Many viewers have compared Extraction 2 to the John Wick franchise, citing their high-octane action and protagonists with troubled pasts.
However, a more significant similarity lies in the directors themselves – both are former stunt performers.
David Leitch and Chad Stahelski of John Wick, and Sam Hargrave of Extraction, all began their careers as stunt doubles for actors like Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, and Chris Evans, eventually becoming stunt coordinators.
This mirrors the Hong Kong film industry of the late 1970s.
At that time, Lau Kar-leung left Chang Cheh’s studio to direct The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Sammo Hung, a former martial arts choreographer under Huang Feng, became a director with Enter the Fat Dragon. Yuen Woo-ping gained fame with Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, and Jackie Chan rose to prominence with Young Master. All had previously worked as stuntmen.
These “Four Great Clans” dominated Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s, producing a plethora of classic action films. While Leitch, Stahelski, and Hargrave have a long way to go to reach their idols’ heights, the success of films like Bullet Train, John Wick, and Extraction has generated excitement among kung fu film enthusiasts.
Leitch’s Atomic Blonde and Bullet Train lean towards a comic book style, drawing inspiration from past action films.
The John Wick series is infused with Hong Kong martial arts sensibilities, blending the masculinity and morality of Chang Cheh’s films with the elegance and mystery of Chor Yuen’s works. Stahelski emphasizes classical aesthetics, creating a sense of danger within order.
The Extraction series blends Jackie Chan’s ingenuity and fluidity with the brutal realism of Donnie Yen’s modern martial arts films like Flash Point and SPL: Kill Zone. Rake possesses both lethal skills and a vulnerable inner world.
This distinct stylistic diversity is a positive sign for moviegoers. It suggests that these filmmakers are not content with complacency but are eager to break free from Hollywood’s action movie constraints and forge their own paths.
While these films may not surpass classics like Project A, Flash Point, and The Raid, they demonstrate that the action genre is still thriving.