Extraction 2020

In this action thriller, we follow a dark and gloomy mercenary played by Chris Hemsworth as he takes on his most dangerous assignment yet. The Bangladeshi mafia has kidnapped the son of an infamous Indian drug lord, and he has to save him. This mercenary has issues of his own, though, and will have to face some hard truths about his past life to complete the job and save the boy. Hold on to your hats folks, because this film means business. From the very first scene, the movie scoops you away in this roller coaster of mixed martial arts and car chases in the crowded streets of Dhaka. I'm a sucker for a great fight scene, and this movie is jam-packed with them. They reminded me of films such as John Wick or The Raid, where the director keeps the shaky camera effects to a minimum and prioritizes wide-angle shots that made every fight visceral. Stellar performances by Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, and Randeep Hooda only reinforce the quality of the movie. I was pleased to hear actors speak in their native languages when not around English-speaking characters, which made me feel immersed but might upset some people who refuse to read subtitles. (You can do it, make an effort.) Chris shines in these violent and broody roles, and I believe he is at the top of his game in Extraction. I hope he pursues more movies in this style. The story is good; without giving any spoilers away, I can say the plot has a satisfying arc and even surprised me at times. My only complaint would be the story building around Chris's character; it didn't take any risks and stuck to the "Mercenary with issues" route that we see in so many movies. I would have enjoyed his character if he had a bit more depth and layers to his background. David Harbour also gives an excellent performance, although his character could have been a bit more fleshed out. His motives seemed shallow, and it was hard to care about his safety in life-threatening situations because of this. This movie reminded me of films such as Logan or John Wick, but also video games like God of War or The Last of Us. The relationship between the mercenary and the kid grows on you throughout the movie. As you discover more about our anti-hero's past, you understand why he cares for the child and wants to fulfill his mission, even if it means tearing down half of Dhaka with the equivalent of a US armory in his pockets. Any fan of martial art movies or action-packed thrillers will enjoy this one. It packs a punch while delivering a solid story. It's the kind of movie that makes you want to go for a run and throw high kicks in your garden.