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Please beware there are several spoilers for Hargrave’s 2020 film Extraction and 2023’s sequel Extraction 2.
During the 2010s, action movies — such as Red (( 2010; Schwentke, Robert )), Kick-Ass (( 2010; Vaughn, Matthew )), and Birds of Prey (( 2020; Yan, Cathy )) — emphasized humor and jokes in place of serious content.
There has been a revival of this trend in recent years, as evidenced by films such as John Wick: Chapter 4 (( 2010; Stahelski, Chad), Netflix’s Extraction (( 2020; Hargrave, Sam )), and Extraction 2 (( 2023; Hargrave, Sam )), examples of which have demonstrated the possibilities of action films beyond continuous action and special effects — especially as the level of humor has increased with each passing decade in cinema (( Avengers: Endgame; Anthony, Joe Russo, 2019 )), (( Transformers: Rise of the Beasts; Steven Caple Jr., 2023 )), (( Jurassic World; Colin Trevorrow, 2015 )), and (( Men in Black: International; F. Gary Gray., 2019 )).
As action films continue to evolve, it is irrefutable that it remains one of the most popular genres. But action films can go beyond just visual effects and humor, and if you have an eye for details, you can discover a new level of authenticity as evidenced in Netflix’s Extraction 2 (( 2023; Hargrave, Sam )).
Extraction 2 (2023; Hargrave, Sam)
The sequel to Hargrave’s Extraction is based on the 2020 film Extraction ((2020; Hargrave, Sam)), in which a brave fighter (Chris Hemsworth) is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of a powerful criminal. In a world where illegal weapons and drugs are prevalent, however, this mission becomes even more challenging and risky.
As in the first Extraction, Extraction 2 begins with Tyler Rake throwing himself off a bridge. When Tyler throws himself off the bridge, he is badly wounded and looks like he’s going to die. Having also just been shot in the neck by a sniper, Tyler is oozing blood. And that is where it all begins.
Representing ‘Action Gunshot Sequences’ Authentically With “Silencers” In Extraction 2 (2023)
Extraction 2 features silencers (also called suppressors), which are add-ons designed to make a fired gun quieter and reduce the bright flash at the end of the barrel; their versatility has made them popular in action films that go beyond Extraction. The guns are often portrayed as tools for stealth and intrigue. You can see silencers used in movies like the “James Bond” series (1962-) and John Wick (2014-2023), where silencers contribute to the cinematic depiction of more discreet firearm usage.
Among most action films that use silencers, no gunshot sounds are added, but in reality, silencers are still loud enough to hear. Silencers only suppress the defining sound of a gun firing, rather than making it completely “silent.” They are often used in action films when protagonists or antagonists need to be stealthy during missions, such as taking out a target or rescuing a hostage. In most action films, silencers are portrayed as much quieter than they actually are. (As an example, a sniper rifle’s loud bang might be reduced to a whisper when silenced.)
Silencers do lower the noise level considerably, with an average reading of around 100dB. However, this is still far from the almost silent effect depicted in most movies. A silenced weapon’s noise level of 100dB is comparable to the sound of a hammer striking a piece of wood, meaning they are still quite audible. Extraction 2 is one of the rare films that accurately shows this detail in its action scenes compared to other movies where silencers are unrealistically quiet. In the film, Tyler uses silencers while rescuing his ex-sister-in-law from a prison in Georgia. When they get caught, he has to shoot his way out, and the noise of the rifle is clearly heard by the shouting inmates.
The idea of using silencers that are not completely “silent” and might raise questions about why they are used if they are not entirely quiet and safe for missions. While silencers do not completely eliminate gun noise, they do significantly reduce it. Tyler’s use of a silencer helps hide his exact location in the prison, but his gun’s sound can still be heard by the inmates in his block. However, handling a block filled with inmates is less challenging for Tyler compared to dealing with the entire prison.
The use of the silencer on Tyler’s rifle in Extraction 2 also appeared realistic; the bullets were slowed down, making them less likely to penetrate armor with just one shot. Usually, this aspect is ignored in other films, and the protagonist’s guns are portrayed as extremely powerful — easily blasting through anything.
When Tyler shoots his attackers in the chest, they do not always go down with one shot; despite the pain, his opponents keep charging at him to fight hand-to-hand due to adrenaline. This realistic detail makes the fights more intense as Tyler has to work harder to survive and escape. In the 21-minute sequence, tension is maintained by intensifying the scenes such as this.
Hemsworth’s Impressive ‘Action Stunts’ As Tyler Rake
The majority of action scenes in action films are performed by stuntmen in order to save the protagonist’s stamina during filming and/or to avoid the actors getting hurt. However, Hemsworth stands out by doing 99% of his own stunts (another example is Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible (1996-2023) franchise), making a real difference in Extraction 2. (( Thorp, C. (2023, June 27). Director Sam Hargrave Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Chris Hemsworth’s Craziest Stunts in “Extraction 2.” Men’s Journal; Men’s Journal. ))
Despite the film’s dangerous and intense scenes, Hemsworth’s active participation in onscreen performances lends the film an authentic feel. Nearly 400 extras and a working train were required to film the 21-minute one-take sequence in the film. Hemsworth also appeared in a scene where he shot down a real helicopter while riding a moving train at 40 miles per hour. (Way too cool!) Hemsworth faced freezing temperatures, snow, and wind while doing that sequence.
During another part of the production, they wanted to add more excitement to Tyler Rake’s escape from prison, so they came up with the idea of lighting Hemsworth on fire to create a visually striking contrast of elements. Hemsworth was on board with the idea as long as it was safe, and they assembled a highly skilled team to prepare for the stunt.
Director Hargrave’s creativity and knowledge of action and stunts impressively kept the film going. The train element alone took three weeks of rehearsal, and it was the first scene filmed at that location. Despite the difficulties, Hemsworth’s experience with stunts and body awareness helped him and the crew take hits to get the perfect shot. Despite rehearsing for five months and filming for twenty-nine days, Hemsworth’s dedication ensured the movie looked action-packed, and it paid off to make a stellar action movie.
Hemsworth’s Persistence For Extraction 2 (2023)
Following the 14-minute one-take sequence in the first film, Hemsworth was initially reluctant to perform more challenging action scenes. Despite his fear, Chris committed to performing most of the action and stunts himself, relying on stunt doubles for only a few parts. In a few of the action scenes, he hung precariously from a helicopter, an extremely dangerous situation.
Creating new and unique choreography for Extraction 2 was a challenge for the production team. The stunt team devised a number of unusual and humorous ideas that would fit the setting in order to ensure that the church fight scene at the end of the film would be memorable. To accomplish this, they chose to set the scene in a church under construction so that there would be a variety of tools and objects to be used. As an example, Chris was stabbed with a screwdriver, hit with a bucket of nails, and even blocked a saw with his arm.
Extraction 2 (2023): Developing Action Sequences Through Teamwork
Their relationship began as a team, and one of the best aspects of Extraction is that each member of Tyler’s team comes close to death in a number of intense scenes. In addition to demonstrating how effective teamwork should be, Tyler emphasizes that helping goes beyond completing the mission, and, unfortunately, learns along the way that this does not go without casualties.
Despite the challenges they face, Tyler and Nik stay together as a team without blaming or hating each other because they understand the consequences and risks of their actions. In Extraction 2′s ending sequence, when Nik is injured in the church, the mission is accomplished. Tyler could have escaped but chooses to stay with Nik and calmly surrender to the police.
They both end up in prison, but the compelling part is when Tyler is offered a chance to be released and take on another mission.; he initially refuses because of Nik’s injury and the fear of leaving her in prison by herself. However, the person making the offer surprises him by bringing Nik in a police car, hinting at Extraction 3 where Tyler and Nik will continue to be a team.
The Inspiration Behind The Authenticity of Extraction 2 (2023)
Extraction 2 (2023) boasts impressive stunts as a result of Hargrave’s admiration of Jackie Chan, an actor whom we all grew up watching and who completed our childhood. While training in Taekwondo, Hargrave enjoyed watching Jackie Chan movies during his training, making them one of his favorite activities. As we all know, nobody does it like Jackie Chan, but his love, admiration, and inspiration for him influenced the creation of Tyler Rake in Extraction and Extraction 2, which can be seen in the well-crafted and captivating action sequences.
The success of the film was greatly contributed to by Hargrave’s skill in creating stunts, which is a result of his experience as a stunt coordinator. The film’s success shows that Hemsworth is committed to making things appear genuine, and it should come as no surprise that they are talking about making Extraction 3. (( Mireia Mullor. (2023, June 16). Extraction 3 potential release date, cast, and everything you need to know. Digital Spy; Digital Spy. ))