Director Sam Hargrave describes ‘Extraction 2’ as ‘bigger and more exciting’ than the original
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Director Sam Hargrave describes ‘Extraction 2’ as ‘bigger and more exciting’ than the original
Rhea Manila Santos
Published Jun 07, 2023 10:28 AM PHT

After directing Extraction in 2020, director Sam Hargrave revealed how he challenged himself into raising the bar with the sequel Extraction 2 which will be released this month.
After directing Extraction in 2020, director Sam Hargrave revealed how he challenged himself into raising the bar with the sequel Extraction 2 which will be released this month.
The actor and director talked about how he wants to set his film apart from other action films in the past.
The actor and director talked about how he wants to set his film apart from other action films in the past.
“I try to look at it like a fan myself. I’m a fan of action. Like I’m super excited about Mission Impossible and I can’t wait to see it. So when I approach action, I think, what would I as a fan, want to see there? What would I enjoy? How can I do that in a way that’s interesting or maybe hasn’t been done before? Because there’s so many great action designers and choreographers out there.
“I try to look at it like a fan myself. I’m a fan of action. Like I’m super excited about Mission Impossible and I can’t wait to see it. So when I approach action, I think, what would I as a fan, want to see there? What would I enjoy? How can I do that in a way that’s interesting or maybe hasn’t been done before? Because there’s so many great action designers and choreographers out there.
“I feel like I’m not going to out kick or punch them but I might be able to photograph it in such a way that’s unique to my point of view. And that just becomes the way Sam Hargrave does an action scene rather than oh it’s the greatest fight scene ever. It’s my point of view. So ten other directors might do it ten other ways. But I do it my way and hopefully people will love it. It’s my interpretation and the most exciting way I can imagine to present it to the audience and hopefully other people enjoy it,” he said during Netflix’s Extraction 2 press conference held last June 5 in Pasay city.
“I feel like I’m not going to out kick or punch them but I might be able to photograph it in such a way that’s unique to my point of view. And that just becomes the way Sam Hargrave does an action scene rather than oh it’s the greatest fight scene ever. It’s my point of view. So ten other directors might do it ten other ways. But I do it my way and hopefully people will love it. It’s my interpretation and the most exciting way I can imagine to present it to the audience and hopefully other people enjoy it,” he said during Netflix’s Extraction 2 press conference held last June 5 in Pasay city.
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The latest action thriller film from Netflix also reunites Sam with his lead star Chris Hemsworth, who he was more than happy to work with again.
The latest action thriller film from Netflix also reunites Sam with his lead star Chris Hemsworth, who he was more than happy to work with again.
“I mean, look at the guy. As a filmmaker, filmmaking is one of the most collaborative art forms out there and when you get the opportunity to work with someone like Chris who is not only supremely talented in his acting and action, but as a filmmaker, he’s so collaborative and knowledgeable about storytelling, writing, where to put the camera. and so it makes my job a whole lot easier when you have somebody like him inspiring you and helping lead the way. It’s always a pleasure working with Chris.
“I mean, look at the guy. As a filmmaker, filmmaking is one of the most collaborative art forms out there and when you get the opportunity to work with someone like Chris who is not only supremely talented in his acting and action, but as a filmmaker, he’s so collaborative and knowledgeable about storytelling, writing, where to put the camera. and so it makes my job a whole lot easier when you have somebody like him inspiring you and helping lead the way. It’s always a pleasure working with Chris.
“I worked very closely with (writer) Joe Russo on the script. it came in as an outline and as the iterations of the script came through, Chris also worked very closely with me. We already started shooting and we had a decent idea of where it was going. A lot of the specifics and character dynamics we worked on breaks and holidays. We both spent a lot of time working on it together and worked very closely with Joe,” he recalled.
“I worked very closely with (writer) Joe Russo on the script. it came in as an outline and as the iterations of the script came through, Chris also worked very closely with me. We already started shooting and we had a decent idea of where it was going. A lot of the specifics and character dynamics we worked on breaks and holidays. We both spent a lot of time working on it together and worked very closely with Joe,” he recalled.
The Extraction 2 trailer already promises bigger action scenes, which Sam admits was a challenge especially for him in one scene.
The Extraction 2 trailer already promises bigger action scenes, which Sam admits was a challenge especially for him in one scene.
“We really pushed the envelope. Wail ’til you see it. Watching Chris put himself on the line day after day, lighting yourself on fire for all of you, I think that deserves a round of applause.
“We really pushed the envelope. Wail ’til you see it. Watching Chris put himself on the line day after day, lighting yourself on fire for all of you, I think that deserves a round of applause.
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“Probably one of the craziest things we did in Extraction 2 was land a helicopter on a moving train. That was probably the most difficult shot for me because I was operating the camera and I don’t know if you have been under a helicopter trying to keep itself off the ground and the force that allows that bird to fly and walking under that is like walking into a hurricane. So I had to walk along the side where I could walk close enough where I could reach out and touch the pilot, that was a difficult shot to not be blown off the train.
“Probably one of the craziest things we did in Extraction 2 was land a helicopter on a moving train. That was probably the most difficult shot for me because I was operating the camera and I don’t know if you have been under a helicopter trying to keep itself off the ground and the force that allows that bird to fly and walking under that is like walking into a hurricane. So I had to walk along the side where I could walk close enough where I could reach out and touch the pilot, that was a difficult shot to not be blown off the train.
“For Chris though that was also a difficult shot. He and I did this little dance, like it seems simple and it doesn’t look like it’s complicated when you see the movie but when he shoots down from the helicopter, it was so cold. It was below zero the air temperature but then you’re moving 50 miles an hour and the winds blowing and you feel like your face is about to fall off. But we had to do this little dance and act up there like a stone cold killer. I think that was one of the hardest things that we did together because the chopper was right in front of me and we had to do a dance on top of a moving train. It was wild,” he admitted.
“For Chris though that was also a difficult shot. He and I did this little dance, like it seems simple and it doesn’t look like it’s complicated when you see the movie but when he shoots down from the helicopter, it was so cold. It was below zero the air temperature but then you’re moving 50 miles an hour and the winds blowing and you feel like your face is about to fall off. But we had to do this little dance and act up there like a stone cold killer. I think that was one of the hardest things that we did together because the chopper was right in front of me and we had to do a dance on top of a moving train. It was wild,” he admitted.
Despite the hurdles of filming during the pandemic, Sam said he and Chris were more than happy to take on the challenge on finishing a project they could be proud of.
Despite the hurdles of filming during the pandemic, Sam said he and Chris were more than happy to take on the challenge on finishing a project they could be proud of.
“Working together makes my job easier but the challenge with each new film is that there’s so many great movies that come out every year, like so many great action, so how do you compete? How do you keep up with the level of action? The bar keeps getting raised and raised every time.
“Working together makes my job easier but the challenge with each new film is that there’s so many great movies that come out every year, like so many great action, so how do you compete? How do you keep up with the level of action? The bar keeps getting raised and raised every time.
“And so, working with somebody as talented and hardworking as Chris, then we look at each other and say, ‘How can we push each other to do something that we can be proud of ten years from now?’ And we try to make it something memorable for the fans,” he added.
“And so, working with somebody as talented and hardworking as Chris, then we look at each other and say, ‘How can we push each other to do something that we can be proud of ten years from now?’ And we try to make it something memorable for the fans,” he added.
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Extraction 2 premieres on June 16, only on Netflix.
Extraction 2 premieres on June 16, only on Netflix.
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