Escape Plan: The Extractors
Escape Plan: The Extractors is a 2019 American direct-to-video prison action thriller film directed and co-written by John Herzfeld, and a sequel to Escape Plan (2013) and Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018). It is the third installment in the Escape Plan film series. The film features Sylvester Stallone, 50 Cent, Dave Bautista and Jaime King reprising their roles from the previous films with Max Zhang, Harry Shum, Jr., Malese Jow and Devon Sawa joining the cast. The film was released straight-to-DVD in the United States on July 2, 2019 but received theatrical releases in such countries as Russia, Italy, Australia, Turkey and Portugal.[3]
Escape Plan: The Extractors | |
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Official DVD/Blu-ray cover | |
Directed by | John Herzfeld |
Produced by |
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Screenplay by |
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Starring | |
Music by | Victor Reyes |
Cinematography | Jacques Jouffret |
Edited by | Sean Albertson |
Production company |
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Distributed by | Lionsgate (United States) Universal Pictures (International) |
Release date |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English Chinese |
Budget | $3.6 million[1] |
Box office | $1.7 million[2] |
Escape Plan: The Extractors received more positive reviews compared to the previous film. With a smaller production budget of $3.6 million, it grossed $1.8 million theatrically in some countries and was successful[1] in home market, having domestically grossed $2.9 million.[2][3]
Plot
After touring factory locations in Mansfield, Ohio for her father's company, Hong Kong-based Zhang Innovations, Daya Zhang and her entourage are abducted by mercenaries despite her bodyguard & head of security Bao Yung attempting to fight them off. The kidnappers leave Yung, unconscious with a USB flash drive addressed to security expert Ray Breslin.
In Los Angeles, Breslin crosses paths with Shen Lo a former bodyguard who used to work under Zhang Innovations; both men are on the trail of Daya's father Wu Zhang, whose company is responsible for building covert prisons around the world. They meet with Breslin's associates – his girlfriend Abigail, Hush, and Jules – when Yung arrives with the flash drive. It contains a video message from Lester Clark, Jr., Daya's kidnapper and the son of Breslin's former partner; in business with Zhang, Lester, Sr. betrayed Breslin and was sent to his death.
Breslin reaches out to Trent DeRosa, and they trace the video to a prison compound in Latvia known as “Devil's Station”. Abigail is also abducted, and Wu, having arrived in Mansfield to meet with police, receives a video call from Lester. Seeking revenge for his father's downfall, Lester demands a $700 million ransom, and executes a hostage. Breslin, DeRosa, Jules, Shen, and Yung depart for Latvia to rescue Daya and Abigail.
When Lester threatens the prisoners, Daya's colleague Wong agrees to give him access to Zhang's technology, but another hostage is killed. Hush surveils the prison by drone, and its thermal imaging camera reveals Lester has created his own black site. Breslin infiltrates the compound through the sewers while Shen and Yung approach the outer walls. Alerted to their presence, Lester leaves Daya atop the wall as bait. Shen tries to hold position and wait for Breslin after realizing it's a trap, but Yung charges recklessly ahead against Shen's protests, and he and Shen are subdued by land mines and captured. Lester reveals the flash drive was a tracker that led his men to Abigail, and deduces that Shen and Daya are in love. He executes Yung, and taunts Breslin by video call, cutting Abigail's throat.
Breslin proceeds through the compound, killing Lester's henchmen including Frankie and Sonny. Shen steals a guard's stun gun as he is taken to the cells, using it to start a fire; he melts his restraints and subdues the guards in the smoke. He frees Daya, but they are confronted by more guards. DeRosa arrives, killing the guards with incendiary rounds. In the ensuing chaos, DeRosa kills Ralf (one of Lester's top henchmen) in a brutal fist fight and Shen kills Silva (another of Lester's top henchmen) in a brutal hand to hand fight while rescuing Daya and Wong (Daya's friend and Zhang Innovations technology analyst). Trapped in a shootout with Lester in the upper cells, Breslin is wounded and disarmed, but manages to overpower Lester before telling him that killing Abigail tore him apart and slits his throat, telling him it felt like that. Breslin ends up throwing him off the walkway, avenging Abigail.
Returning to Mansfield, Daya coldly greets her father, now aware of the true nature of his business, before leaving with Shen. DeRosa comforts Breslin over Abigail's death, urging him to forgive himself and Breslin decides to retire.
Cast
- Sylvester Stallone as Ray Breslin, founder of Breslin Security.
- Dave Bautista as Trent DeRosa, an associate of Breslin Security.
- Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Hush, a computer hacker and Breslin's closest friend.
- Max Zhang as Shen Lo, a former security guard for Zhang Innovations and Daya's love interest.
- Harry Shum, Jr. as Bao Yung, head of security for Zhang Innovations.
- Devon Sawa as Lester Clark Jr., the son of Lester Clark, the main antagonist of the first Escape Plan film.
- Jaime King as Abigail Ross, vice president of Breslin Security and Breslin's love interest.
- Lydia Hull as Jules, a staff member of Breslin Security.
- Malese Jow as Daya Zhang, the daughter of Wu Zhang and Shen's love interest.
- Russell Wong as Wu Zhang, the head of Zhang Innovations.
- Daniel Bernhardt as Silva, one of Lester Jr.'s henchmen.
- Jeff Chase as Frankie, one of Lester Jr.'s henchmen.
- Rob de Groot as Ralf, one of Lester Jr.'s henchmen.
- Holland Herzfeld as Sonny, one of Lester Jr.'s henchmen.
- Shea Buckner as FBI Agent Richland
- Tyler Jon Olson as Boone
- Boyang Yang as Wong
- Sherri Robertson as Captain Corbin
- Rich Miller as Detective Davis
- Sergio Rizzuto as Narco
- Jesse Pruett as Felon 2
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Lester Clark Sr (archive footage)
Production
Development was first announced in April 2017, when Stallone said while filming Escape Plan 2: Hades that a third installment in this franchise was on its way. In August 2017, casting was underway for extras and speaking roles. The producers aimed for actors with MMA experience, as there would be potential fight scenes with Stallone and Bautista.[4] Filming began on September 18, 2017 and wrapped on October 13, 2017.[5] The film was originally titled Escape Plan 3: Devil's Station, but by October 2018 the title had been changed to Escape Plan: The Extractors.[6]
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 25% based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 4.29/10.[7]
References
- "Sylvester Stallone Is 'So Proud' Of Escape Plan 3 Success, Since It Was Made In Just 17 Days". CinemaBlend. 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- "Escape Plan: The Extractors". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
- "Escape Plan: The Extractors". The Numbers. Nash Information Services.
- Emily Mills (Aug 17, 2017). "Hollywood calling: 'Escape Plan 3' seeks extras". Mansfield News Journal. Gannett.
- "Sylvester Stallone Shares Videos from the Escape Plan: The Extractors Set". ComingSoon.net. 19 September 2017.
- https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/escape-plan-the-extractors
- "Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes.