Rohit Gahlowt This is an unknown film with not such good reviews from audiences and critics alike. But I watched it because I like locked room stories/mysteries, and the fact that it was set hundreds of feet under water, where the pressure is tremendous and oxygen only what you find in your deep sea diving suit and the submarine pod, made it a must watch for me. This is a locked room suspense, submarine movie. Unless the characters behave stupidly and start killing each other, I don't think anything can go wrong with such a story.And I was right. Right from the get go, this took me with the deep sea divers down under water, and kept me there. In a way I was stuck with them, trapped with them, and wanted to see what will happen next.The basic plot is four deep sea diver are sent in a small pod to fix an oil pipeline on the sea bed. It's a high risk job as a storm is brewing in the skies. Soon they find themselves trapped underwater and retreat into the small submarine/pod which has only so much oxygen for them. So as the characters are trapped they understand, the lesser the number of characters alive, the more the oxygen for them. So if the other trapped character was to die in an accident they would be able to live longer! But what happened next wasn't what I was expecting. It's certainly not about characters killing each other. Instead the second half of the movie is thrilling and emotional as we begin to root for the characters and want them to come out of this dire situation alive!It may not be a big blockbuster, it may not have A list actors, it may not be factually correct about deep sea diving, but it is certainly a good story, with an edge of the seat climax! Rarely does a film take you away from your comfortable chair, and comfortable life and transport you into a different, dangerous, unknown, unseen world. This is one of them. In spite of the flaws, this is a must watch for the setting, suspense and the story.

Claudio Carvalho In the Somalia coast, the veteran divers Engel (Danny Huston), Mitchell (Matthew Goode), Hurst (Jones Alan McKenna) and the rookie Jones (Joe Cole) are assigned to repair an oil pipeline on the bottom of the sea by the Vaxxilon representative Karsen (Ian Pirie). They are advised that a storm is coming, but the Diving Support Vessel Lorimer lowers the bell with the team. They succeed to weld the pipeline but the storm comes and the vessel sinks, killing the whole crew. Short of the oxygen, the divers try to communicate with the surface and the leader Mitchell keeps the hope that they will be saved. But will the oil company send another vessel to rescue them?"Pressure" is one of the most anguishing and realistic drama about the deep water divers ever made and economical interest of oil companies. The performances are top-notch and the realism of the scenes is impressive. The director Ron Scalpello makes an excellent film that keeps the tension along 91 mm running time. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Sob Pressão" ("Under Pressure")

petra_ste Perhaps even more than planes, submarines (or similar vehicles) are perfect for thrillers. The idea of being stuck in a few rooms underwater, running out of oxygen, with only a thin steel shell between you and the cold black sea, is inherently suspenseful. I cannot think of a really terrible submarine flick - it takes an impressive lack of talent to waste this scenario.Pressure is... decent. It does nothing novel, makes a few missteps, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention. Four divers are trapped in a pod at the bottom of the ocean, with only a few hours of oxygen and an ugly dilemma: do they just wait for help (which may or may not be coming), or instead risk their lives (and more oxygen!) to attempt a dangerous escape.The most interesting character is veteran Engel, played by Danny Huston as someone who is competent but not infallible. Sadly, he is saddled with a rather hackneyed backstory. At first we get brief creepy flashbacks with a young woman covered with blood - it turns out she was his girlfriend (never mind she looks like she could be Huston's teenage daughter) who died in a car crash. Engel then let the other driver (who caused the accident) drown along with his family. Guess who is looking for redemption now? It's overly melodramatic stuff - to make it even more heavy-handed, the kid in the car looks like the youngest crew member, Jones (Joe Cole). Speaking of Jones, he is involved in another portentous scene, where he hallucinates and sees a naked woman who, mermaid-like, at first kisses him, then bites him viciously. It's fairly silly. The more realistic scenes are better - like when Mitchell (Matthew Goode) finds himself among a swarm of jellyfish.Of course, Jones reveals his girlfriend is pregnant. What's up with rookies and their partners in submarine movies? The recent Black Sea did the exact same thing. And the young officer in K-19 also obsessed over his girlfriend; Bon Jovi in U- 571 had just been married... It's becoming a bigger cliché than the old cop on his last day of work.Still, Pressure is watchable. The submarine thriller/drama formula is pretty much foolproof - if not quite waterproof. *drum roll*6/10

quincytheodore Pressure is an example of how to make a small scale movie right. Put several characters on a predicament and let them resolve the increasingly dangerous issues with nature and probably each other. The movie is set nearly exclusively on one location, yet this claustrophobic environment is showcased with rich visual, even sometimes ironically beautiful. The cast, though small, has enough drama for an engaging thriller.Story follows four men who are tasked to fix oil pipeline on sea bed. This is a very risky job since there's a storm brewing and sure enough, they find themselves trapped underwater. With pressure differential, amongst other lethal problems, they have to work together to ensure their survival. The plot offers healthy amount of realism with its taxing physical condition as well as human nature in jeopardy.Surprisingly, the simple setting and premise are effective in creating tension. Characters are decent, each of them has their own vice and these make the already volatile situation escalate. Delivery from the actors are nice, coupled with good pacing, the dynamic between them feels natural. It is quick on introduction and doesn't prolong the scenes needlessly, making the desperate men appear more identifiable.Graphic is not the usual sea oriented or submarine movie, it's in fact quite pristine. The overall tone is painted with blue tint, it eases the sense of dread in sophisticated way. Some of the scenes have outstanding cinematography so the audience won't be lost despite the murky surroundings. A minor obstacle is the movie use to specific lingo that might confuse casual viewer, but majority of the time the dilemma is expressed with adequate simplicity so it can easily capture the thrill.Cleverly implementing fast pace, good characters and clear visual, Pressure makes the modest premise into an engrossing voyage.