Following the sleeper success of Take Cover (2024), British action star Scott Adkins returns in the high-octane sequel Take Cover: Extraction Protocol—a leaner, meaner continuation of the original’s deadly sniper survival concept. Where the first film confined us inside a glass-walled penthouse, the sequel blows the doors wide open—both figuratively and literally.
Set a year after the events of Take Cover, the story picks up with Sam Lorde (Adkins), now living off-grid after exposing a private military corporation’s black-ops betrayal. But peace is short-lived. When a former ally is taken hostage in Istanbul, Sam is pulled back into a covert operation involving double agents, political assassinations, and a new rival: Elena Vos, a female sniper and former protégé turned mercenary.
This time, the battlefield is no longer just a single location. The sequel expands into multiple environments: claustrophobic alleys, rooftops, abandoned mosques, and even a sniper duel inside a speeding train. Yet, despite the broader scale, Extraction Protocol maintains the same core tension and precision that made the first film a cult hit.
Director Nick McKinless, returning with a sharper vision, keeps the pace relentless but measured. The action is not over-the-top; it's calculated, grounded, and brutal—just as fans of Adkins expect. While the original relied on survival suspense, this sequel adds espionage twists, psychological tension, and emotional stakes that deepen Sam’s character beyond just his trigger finger.
A surprise standout is Madalina Bellariu Ion, returning as Tamara, who takes on a more active role this time. Her chemistry with Adkins adds emotional texture to the film, offering brief but effective moments of vulnerability in between bullets.
If there’s a downside, it’s that some of the geopolitical plot points feel familiar, and the moral dilemmas—while compelling—aren’t always explored in full depth. Still, these are minor blemishes on what is otherwise a taut, skillfully made action film.
Take Cover: Extraction Protocol doesn’t reinvent the genre—but it refines it. With its strong performances, realistic stunt work, and sharp direction, it’s a rare sequel that actually improves upon its predecessor.
