John Wick changed action films. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: the John Wick effect is real, and action film junkies benefit from it the most. The film Extraction was the first to really benefit from the fast action, clear combat that blends gunplay and martial arts. These films have changed action films, and Extraction was a fun, fast pace, and impressive action film, and this weekend, we got Extraction 2.
Extraction 2 takes place almost immediately after the first film. If you haven’t watched the first film, feel free to end the review here, because spoilers are ahead. The end of Extraction was ambiguous regarding the survival of our hero Tyler Rake. We know he had been shot and stabbed a time or two, and the poor bloke fell off a bridge to potentially his death.
Rake survived and was rescued by his mercenary crew, but he’s not exactly in fighting shape. He’s in a coma and beat to hell. I’ll give the film credit. He doesn’t miraculously recover in six weeks and take on another mission. While it’s not entirely clear how long it takes him to recover, it’s over a year at the very least, and he’s effectively retired.
That is until a stranger offers him a mission at the behest of his ex-wife, then it’s back on. Like any sequel, it has to ratchet things up a bit. This time Rake isn’t just extracting one person, but three, and this time, it starts from a prison and not a city.
Taking It Up A Notch
Not only are the stakes higher but the fights and gunfights are way more intense. The action is still visible and highly choreographed and looks fantastic. The director is Sam Hargrave, and it bears mentioning that Sam started his Hollywood career as a stunt coordinator and stuntman, and it shows. The guy does a fantastic job of filming action scenes, and it’s clear that he knows how to make good action scenes.
The action is always front and center and seems devoid of much CGI. I wouldn’t say it’s grounded necessarily, but it’s fun and exciting. At times the hand-to-hand fights get absolutely brutal. Rake and Company know how to handle themselves, and he’s constantly using a variety of weapons and things he improvises as weapons.
From knives to hammers and riot shields. Not to mention, one scene in the prison involves a massive furnace that acts as a stationary weapon for a very brutal fight.
Much like fistfights, the gunfights are easy to see, exciting, and somewhat realistic. The movie features plenty of reloads, aimed fire, and beyond. The cast is clearly trained and comfortable with firearms. It’s enough to look believable, and that’s another part of the John Wick effect.
The first film had this famous long cut of a scene that was continuous action for several minutes. It was edited wisely to make it appear to be a one-shot situation. That returns and is even longer and crazier. Overall the action is a solid A.
New Adventure – New Settings
The first Extraction situated the setting into one crowded city, and it worked extremely well. This time the movie isn’t isolated to one setting. It’s split between a prison, a train, Vienna, and a final airport shootout. The multitude of environments allows the film and filmmakers to be more creative with the environment and threats.
The prison offers brutal close-quarters fights, Vienna offers verticality, and a train and airport are unique enough to keep the movie interesting and running. Being able to change settings opens up additional opportunities for action, from car chases to fighting up and down a parking garage.
The Plot
Let’s be clear here, the plot is secondary to the action, and with movies like this, it always will be. The plot is similar to the first. Rake is extracting three people away from a Georgian crime family. Think Vodka Georgia, not Peach Georgia. The three extractees are mother, son, and daughter and were the family of one of the two leaders of the Georgian crime family. Rake killed their patriarch during the prison extraction and drew the ire of the man’s brother, now the solo crime family leader.
This is apparently no standard crime family. They are well-armed with everything from assault rifles and plate carriers to minigun-equipped helicopters. In the first film, Rake was largely working alone, but in this film, he’s teamed with his boss Nik and her brother Yaz.
That sets up the plot, and what brings Rake out of retirement is the fact his ex-wife asked him to complete the mission. We get a little additional information about Rake and his backstory, as well as the tragedy that was hinted at in the first film. Overall it’s a simple story, but it keeps the movie moving.
The Guns of Extraction 2
Of course, we have piles of guns. Rake still prefers his AR-type carbines. In this film, his rifle varies every now and then. In the beginning, he is using a very competent carbine equipped with a suppressor, an Eotech sight, a G33 magnifier, a PEQ 15, a BCM vertical grip, Magpul SL Stock, and finally, what appears to be a modlite. You can’t say his rifle isn’t modern and capable.
Later on, when he fights in Vienna, he grabs what looks like an AR-10 platform equipped with an LPVO. This gun also has a Surefire light, a MAWL, and BCM vertical grip. Rake’s handgun of choice is a full-sized Glock 21 that’s heavily customized and features a Trijicon RMR, a Surefire X300U, and a can occasionally. Red dot-equipped handguns are fairly common in the film, which is rare to see and shows an attention to modern tactics and weapons.
Throughout the film, we see bad guys using various models of AK, from classic AKMS rifles to Zentico furniture-equipped ultra-short carbines. One baddy pulls off an impression of a heavy from Call of Duty with a ton of armor and a SAW. We even see one carrying a chopped, full-auto Saiga 12.
Rake is a man of opportunity that uses what works depending on the situation. He grabs an M240 and fires it from the hip at one point. At another, he seems to grab a handheld minigun for the ultimate unrealistic anti-chopper weapon. He also uses lots of grenade launchers which was fun to see.
A Third One Is Coming
The first film didn’t really have sequel bait. It could have stood alone, and that’d be fine. The second film sequels bait heavily. In fact, it’s a detriment to the movie. In the end, there are consequences, but they are hand-waved away just so we know there is a sequel.
It’s a minor gripe, and maybe I’m just burnt out on sequels. However, I do want a third film because the first two have been so much fun. They are great action flicks and a ton of fun to watch. They are popcorn flicks that emphasize fun, and not every film needs to be My Left Foot.
Has anyone else seen Extraction 2? If so, what do you think? Let us know below.
