The first 20 minutes was fun making fun it. The next hour was straight up excitement. The pace picked up quickly, And so did we. From wondering why Danny Glover still looks uncomfortable with a gun, to how main character ended up making a bunch of phone calls to continental US with quarters he never had in his pocket. And the cigarette boat he was able to commandeer after failing to reliably captain a 9 ft outboard. Overall a very fun movie, thrilling really, with some wtf moments if you've ever been on a boat or a Caribbean vacation. Who gets on a boat in the Caribbean without certification and a gigantic bag of water, lip balm, sunglasses, hats, cash, and the biggie, a PHONE. The minute they left the broken lawn mower I knew they were doomed. This is a must watch for anyone who can't find a coconut on a desert island in the Caribbean. Or at the very least some pirate treasure. Have fun mateys!

A B movie? I wish the so called "A" action-packed movies had the suspense and the quality of the screenplay of "extortion ".

It takes a little time to grow on you (and you say to yourself :"another flick with a nice family in jeopardy", but as soon as the "rescuers" appear,the movie is on fire ,and there's no letup as it continues to build in intensity as unexpected sudden new developments keep the viewer glued to his chair ; the screenplay is so gripping that it makes us forget the numerous implausibilities (a doctor who takes his family to a sea trip without bottles of water?); it was the second time I had watched this (longer than the usual movie of this kind the running time of which generally rarely exceeding 90 min) excellent thriller and I was captivated again all along Eian Bailey's trials .Add one of the most terrifying villains of the decade (straight-faced Barkhad Abdi ) whose motives make sense .

The filmmakers here know their job. This is a taunt thriller, with a lean and exquisite timeline. There is no excess. This is truly knife-edge viewing from the 20 minute mark to the very end. It's a very unusual story, in an unusual location. I honestly don't believe I've seen anything quite like it before. The premise is basically that a father's brain goes into overdrive to find the means to save his family. It doesn't seem forced or farfetched, indeed, it all seems reward for effort. The writers throw brilliant spanners into the works as shock surprises, it's a treat. The ending had real class. I loved some of the ideas for the edits, this is a creative work as well, such as clever shots of parts of a fishing vessel before zooming to an open wallet to awaken the story, or a close-up of a lonely seedling as an ominous symbol. Some of the background music would easily have suited a bigger production as well, even if a tad old-fashioned. The strings as the family land in their resort were particularly inspiring. I have a couple of tiny pickles. The cameras used were OK, but I've seen better for colour, and for a Caribbean movie full of vivid blues that should have been a priority. And honestly, what father with zero knowledge of engines takes a motorboat out to a distance that he can no longer see the shore, with no flares, phones, or water, and hasn't even bothered to let the resort know what he's up to? OK, it's just plausible in the rush of bliss that accompanies pleasing his very young boy. If I may comment generally though, inattention to plot believability in many movies and TV these days is seeming to be a vogue. Is it deliberate? Do people like hating the stupidity of persons or actions? Perhaps I missed hearing about some new and surprising market research, who knows? This one is easily forgivable. The villain is more than believable, well played and cast, as is the patient Danny Glover. The lead is a triumph, as is the overall direction. Extortion is a top class thriller.