Movie Review

Extraction 2 Movie Review: A Former SAS Soldier’s Brutal, Blistering Ballet of Violence

BY SOFREP News Team

Extraction 2 delivers a high-octane thrill ride as Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake, a mercenary on a deadly rescue mission.

Still Image: Extraction 2 (Rotten Tomatoes/Netflix)

Extraction 2, a sequel to the 2020 action thriller, delivers a relentless assault on the senses.

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Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Tyler Rake, a black market mercenary tasked with rescuing a Georgian gangster’s family from a deadly prison.

In my humble opinion, as a military writer rather than a movie critic, Extraction 2 is a masterclass in cinematic action. It excels in the genre’s core tenets: larger-than-life characters, brutal violence, and a plot that revolves around a morally complex protagonist.

Top-Notch Combat Sequence, Actors, Setting

Extraction 2‘s meticulously choreographed combat sequences showcase a strong understanding of the military tactics and weaponry of the production team.

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The camera work was also very impressive, especially that single-take scene early in the film.

Hemsworth’s commendable portrayal of Rake, which is both physically demanding and emotionally resonant, successfully captures the hardened resolve of a soldier who has witnessed too much.

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The film’s setting, a Georgian prison, adds a layer of realism to the proceedings.

The prison’s bleak, oppressive atmosphere creates a palpable sense of danger, while the inmates’ desperation and violence reflect the harsh realities of life behind bars.

Chris Hemsworth
Still Image: Hemsworth as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, 2023. (Rotten Tomatoes/Netflix)

But Of Course, Not Without Its Flaws

Extraction 2 has its challenges. The plot is relatively straightforward, and the character development is limited.

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The film’s focus is primarily on the action, and while the combat sequences are undeniably thrilling, they may leave some viewers craving more depth.

And like many action-packed films, it stumbles in its final minutes, where the intensity fades, and the pacing could have been handled better, in my opinion.

Despite its shortcomings, Extraction 2 is a must-see for action cinema fanatics and military buffs. It is a brutal, blistering ballet of violence that will leave you breathless.

Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking to kick back and relax for a couple of hours.

Plot Summary

As expert critics would call it the “Sad Action Hero” cannon, the Extraction franchise takes us into the backstory of Tyler Rake, a former Australian special forces soldier haunted by his past failures. His decision to continue serving in Afghanistan while his son was battling a terminal illness led to immense guilt and grief. This emotional turmoil drives his actions as a mercenary as he seeks redemption and confronts the demons of his past. These themes were all too common in the real world. I left my own 18-month-old son for 15 months to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and SOFREP founder and CEO Brandon Webb missed the birth of his first child while serving in Afghanistan. There is indeed a bit of psychological conflict in cases like this, but we all knew it was possible going into the job.

The film explores themes of parental responsibility and the fallout of neglect. Tyler’s enemies aren’t just villains—they’re mirrors of his own struggles, highlighting his perceived failures as a father and husband.

The main protagonist’s wild adventures are more than just action-packed; they’re a quest for self-forgiveness and redemption, all wrapped in intense action and violence.

Alongside Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa reprised their roles from the first film. The rest of the cast includes Tornike Gogrichiani, Tornike Bziava, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Daniel Bernhardt, Olga Kurylenko, and Idris Elba, among many others.

See the movie trailer below.

Extraction 2 has since been released and made available for streaming via Netflix. Check out the movie yourselves, and let us know what you think in the comments!

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.

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