Extraction (2020)

Extraction is the rare modern action thriller that doesn’t just hit hard—it lands clean, with every punch, gunshot, and desperate sprint staged so clearly you feel the geography, the danger, and the exhaustion. Sam Hargrave, a stunt veteran with a storyteller’s sense of momentum, builds set pieces that move like clockwork, including a bravura “how are they even doing this?” extended sequence that turns chaos into choreography. Chris Hemsworth gives Tyler Rake a bruised humanity beneath the muscle, and the film’s gritty Dhaka backdrop adds a sweaty, street-level intensity that keeps the tension tight even between explosions. It’s absolutely not for the squeamish—this is R-rated, relentless, and often brutal—but if you’ve been craving action that’s visceral, legible, and surprisingly soulful, this one earns your time.

Extraction is clearly trying to be a gritty, boots-on-the-ground rescue thriller with a bruised hero, a kid to protect, and a relentless citywide chase that never lets up. When it’s firing on all cylinders, the action is impressively staged and Chris Hemsworth sells the physical punishment, with a few standout set pieces that feel engineered to wow. But the story underneath is pretty thin and familiar, and the film often leans on repetitive, extremely bloody violence to keep momentum, which can make the pacing feel like “fight, breathe, fight” rather than a truly escalating thriller. If you want character depth, fresh plotting, or a more thoughtful use of its setting, this may feel hollow; if you just want hard-hitting action with minimal downtime (and you’re fine with severe gore), it delivers exactly that.