Extraction Director Sam Hargrave Says Chris Hemsworth Held His Breath Underwater for Nearly 3 Minutes

While Netflixs Extraction probably wont heft gold over its head for its storyline (which plays out more or less like a behind-enemy-lines video game escort mission), the film delivers action. Like a 12-minute single take where the camera enters multiple vehicles, avoids car crashes, and dismounts, while following the action up and down stairs during a gunfight. That sort of action.

Director Sam Hargrave, himself a long-time stunt performer for many films including the Marvel movies, wanted to give his directorial debut some realistic panting, wall-support-holding actioneven if characters hit by cars and shot through the neck may still make it out okay .

This sort of grueling filming was possible, Hargrave told Mens Health in a recent interview , because of the films lead: Chris Hemsworth . I think Hemsworth takes the cake, Hargrave said, pressed to answer which one of his career's many talented stunt performers (Charlize Theron, Hugh Jackman, Chris Evans, etc.) takes to stunt work most naturally.

Hemsworths first stunt in the film involves a cliff dive. Hargrave said they shot the scene using a mat 12-feet below a cliff face. He then cut together Hemsworths jump and Hemsworths stuntman, Bobby Holland Hanton, hitting the water.

Underwater, however, was all obviously Hemsworth. Its not a dangerous scene, but it required concentration. Hargrave explained what he found so impressive:

Hemsworth shot that in a water tank on a stage, but he would hold his breath for over two and a half minutes. We were counting it down. At two and a half minutes, we said, "Okay, we've got the shot twice already. Why don't you come on up? He just seemed to be in a relaxed, meditative state.

The average adult can hold his/her breath for around 45-60 seconds . Holding his breath for close to three minutes puts Hemsworth in the elite athlete/military/total show-off range.

But that might not even be the most impressive feat here. Hemsworth's facial posture is so relaxed, you can barely see the muscles under his eyes contract. He just stares straight through the lake. That must have been some clean, clean water.