Extraction, USA

I was invited to see this movie on screen at KAN-KAN an Indianapolis theatre that supports independent filmmakers. The two friends who invited me are well acquainted with its producer and director, Mike Yontz.

I had no idea what we were going to see. As it opened I was quickly drawn into the story of Marni, a struggling single mother in the fictitious small town of extraction, USA whose economy is based on a corrupt oil company.

The film is fast-paced with lots of plot turns and twists, the acting is excellent and the use of the donated and low budget settings is very impressive. Impressive. Indianapolis residents will find themselves surprised to see a lot of Indianapolis footage. The lesbian love story is particularly attractive to some of us. 😉 It's refreshing to see women in strong roles. Even if there is a bit of anti-heroism in their story. Give it a look! As well. Worth watching.

Extraction, USA is a great debut indie film. The acting, the chemistry between the actors, or the photography, for example, are way better than what people would expect from a debut film. You can perceive the attention to detail from the beginning (a cool opening with a bullet crossing the title) to the end. And no, I am not going to spoil the end ;).

I liked the music choices, the action, the diversity, and the funny moments that were sprinkled here and there.

This movie allows you to enter in Marni's and Steph's lives and forget about your problems for one hour and a half. Since it is not boring at all, you focus and you enjoy it.

It's a really good movie and an enjoyable watch! The two main actresses Leanne Johnson and Marlee Carpenter's character chemistry really sparks and makes you care about their plight.

The story captures the despair of being stuck in a doomed, dead end small town ... and suddenly seeing your dreams and a way OUT seductively dangled in front of you -- if you just dare to break a few rules (maybe a few TOO MANY rules.)

In that way it's as much an indie "character-driven" movie love story as it is an actiony and adventure story. The music is really used well too, adding a lot to the overall vibe and drama (too often, it's like someone just plugged in a couple of songs ... THESE add the whole feel! And it feels SCORED: music adding to the emotions and not just filler.)

Definitely a movie to watch and enjoy. The Actors and Director, Cinematography and Writers all show their talent and control as true artists!

So this story is about a single mom in a town that is blue collar but dominated in that industry and everyone else has to fight for the scraps of the economy, making it a class division and building animosity amongst the community members. Through circumstances and scraping by, like pool hustling and whatever she can do to gain a financial edge, Marni, the protagonist, lean further and further into increasing risky criminal acts that can gain financial freedom. She meets a free spirit independent woman who increases these tendencies in her personal life that leads to even higher riskier capers. Fun film with a surprising ending.

You can't help feeling empathy for Marni a single mom trying to raise her reclusive teenage son. It's not before Marni meets Steph, a bird of passage and fellow pool hustler, who instantly wins Marni over, that she can envision a way out of the dead-end oil town.

Writers Peter Matsoukas and Mike Yonts delicately weave the subplot of the queer relationship subplot, which rapidly develops between Marni and Steph into their multifarious script rather than turn the spotlight onto it. It's written to feel conventional to the point that Marni's son never questions their budding love. Instead, we watch their romance, new terrain for Marni, evolve by paralleling their ambitions to find a way out Extraction

Yonts' gritty and vigorous soundtrack flows throughout most of the film much like the crude under the town's grounds. It transpits the synergy created on screen by our duo in the throes of love. A great watch!