Extortion 2017 * * * 1/2 Stars

Director: Phil Volken
Year: 2017
Rated R
Rating: * * * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Eion Bailey, Bethany Joy Lenz, Barkhad Abdi

Not to be confused with 2015's Extraction and its similar poster, Extortion is my latest review. With its star in the making locales, its natural character acting, and its gnawing tension that may upset you, Extortion takes the ordinary family vacation and turns it into a plunging nightmare. After seeing this movie, you might want to take heed when hastily visiting the Caribbean. Also, you might wanna ride a jet ski as opposed to any other form of zipped buoyancy.

The plot of Extortion is fairly original despite the fact that it kinda nods towards films like Cast Away and 1997's Breakdown. As it begins, your hunch tells you that something really bad is about to happen. Extortion involves a doctor, his wife, and his young tyke of a son. This parentage gets more than they bargain for. Believe it. They go on a warm getaway, they decide to rent an old boat, and they become stranded on a deserted island. Then, a fisherman attempts to rescue them but wants a million dollars in return.

Directed with relentless verve by Phil Volken, Extortion doesn't indulge in cinematic gimmicks and moves at a decent clip. Volken has his flick play detective as the story goes off into many stirring directions. He uses overhead shots and some jittery camerawork. Overall, his method is just plain efficacious. His troupers don't let him down either. Eion Bailey plays with nerve-ending intensity, the protagonist doctor named Kevin Riley. And Barkhad Abdi who's more creepy here than he was in Captain Phillips, channels the antagonistic fisherman named Miguel Kaba.

Part thriller, part drama. and part psychological horror fare, Extortion shattered me and I'm sure it will shatter you too. Granted, it doesn't have a notable lead or a strong marketing ploy. And it's only being released in U.S. and in the Philippines. Regardless, this thing is still my pick for biggest movie surprise of 2017. It's cynical, frustrating, nasty, and harrowing. Heck, it's okay to get "blackmailed" into seeing Extortion. Rating: 3 and a half stars.

Written by Jesse Burleson