Extortion (2017)

Extortion works because it takes an everyday fear—one bad decision on vacation—and tightens it into a lean, sun-scorched survival thriller where the ocean feels as threatening as the people on land. Eion Bailey makes the father’s desperation feel raw and believable, and the film keeps shifting the ground under him with hard choices, escalating stakes, and the unnerving sense that help might come with a price tag. Director Phil Volken gives the Bahamas setting a deceptively beautiful sheen while the tension turns gritty and claustrophobic, helped along by Danny Glover’s steady presence as the case grows murkier. It’s a rough, R-rated ride with some brutal violence, so it’s not for the squeamish—but if you want a fast, nerve-tight movie about how far someone will go to bring their family home, it delivers.

Extortion is clearly trying to be a lean, sun-soaked survival thriller about an ordinary guy making desperate choices when his family vanishes, and the basic setup is tense enough to hook you. The problem is it often plays like a made-for-TV movie with rough edges: uneven acting, convenient plot turns, and a villain who’s more blunt instrument than fascinating character, which can make the suspense feel forced instead of earned. It also goes harder on violence and nasty threats than you might expect from the vacation-postcard look, so if harm to kids or sudden brutality is a dealbreaker, steer clear. If you can tolerate some clunky writing for a brisk, high-stakes chase and a few solid survival moments, it’s watchable—but don’t go in expecting a polished thriller.