CAST: Chris Hemworth, Idris Elba, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Andro Jafaridze, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Mariami, and Marta Kovziashvili, Tornike Bziava, Tornike Gogrichiani

DIRECTOR: Sam Hargrave

As “Extraction” drew to a close, the fate of its protagonist, Tyler Rake, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, seemed to be sealed. Having undergone severe battering, multiple gunshot wounds, and finally being thrown into a river, it seemed Tyler met his end. However, a shadowy figure resembling Tyler surfaced in the last scenes of the movie directed by Sam Hargrave, hinting at a twist.

Now, in the realm of blockbuster movies, characters have a knack for coming back from the dead, especially if they are fan favorites. Tyler Rake, the tough Australian mercenary with a hidden compassionate side, proved to be no exception, paving the way for “Extraction 2.”

The marketing campaign for the Netflix action sequel cleverly capitalized on the surprise element, utilizing the hashtag #TylerRakeLives along with an emoji representing a flaming punching arm, which aptly encapsulates the essence of the franchise. The sequel, as expected, kicks off with Tyler’s dramatic revival. Through flashbacks, the audience is reminded of the grueling ordeal Tyler went through in his previous mission to save a child entangled in the black market.

The film reveals that Tyler, who was, by all accounts, “clinically dead,” is resuscitated through a combination of advanced medical intervention and the relentless efforts of his handler, Nik (played by Golshifteh Farahani), and her witty brother Yaz (portrayed by Adam Bessa).

In the inaugural “Extraction,” Tyler’s most significant trait was his sheer fearlessness, primarily fueled by the deep-seated guilt of having deserted his terminally ill son. This emotional subplot, briefly touched upon in the first movie, is delved into more extensively in the sequel. However, given the near-fatal injuries sustained by Tyler, his reckless bravado is no longer a viable strategy as he undergoes recovery in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Joe Russo’s script swiftly shifts the setting to Georgia, where the audience is introduced to Zurab (played by Tornike Gogrichiani) and his imprisoned brother Davit (portrayed by Tornike Bziava), two inseparably linked siblings entrenched in the criminal underworld.

It becomes evident that the paths of these siblings will cross with Tyler and his squad. The narrative unfolds as Russo unveils the subjects of this extraction mission – a family trio consisting of the mother (Tinatin Dalakishvili), her son Sandro (Andro Jafaridze), and the youngest daughter Nina (played alternately by Mariami and Marta Kovziashvili). The twist is their underlying connection to Tyler, compelling the battle-scarred mercenary to overcome his ailments and plunge back into action. The plot is further spiced up by the introduction of a mysterious character, portrayed by Idris Elba, who approaches Tyler for the mission. This character enshrouded in shadows and sans a name, seemingly hints at potential franchise expansion – a move that, despite its transparency, is quite enticing.

Start the clock for the training montage, the icy terrains of Austria serve as the backdrop. Picture a relentless Tyler fervently chopping logs and hauling hefty weights through the snow, echoing the iconic boxing epic. In no time, Tyler is storming through a Georgian prison to rescue the frightened family while contending with a horde of adversaries along the way, with Davit being merely one among many.

In Hargrave’s directorial debut back in 2020, an astounding 12-minute uncut action sequence was one of the film’s highlights, showcasing Tyler battling through the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Now, Hemsworth, Hargrave, and their skilled stunt team have taken it up a notch, delivering a staggering 21-minute segment orchestrated to give the impression of a single continuous shot.

The adrenaline-pumping sequence escorts Tyler and his squad through (take a deep breath) the initial prison breach, a grueling mano-a-mano with an enraged Davit, an all-out prison courtyard brawl (cue the flaming arm), a high-octane car chase replete with darkly humorous adversary takedowns, a frenzied sprint through a rickety factory, an off-the-rails train skirmish featuring menacing helicopters and close-quarters combat, culminating in a jaw-dropping finale.

This is how Hargrave’s film makes its opening statement, an indelibly unforgettable scene that elevates the movie above both its forerunner and its contemporaries on Netflix.

Definitely one of the better Netflix Originals.

Streams on Netflix.