Pressure review: A great concept that sadly lacks a genuine connection and would benefit immensely from more focused direction and a stronger script.
After recently enjoying the unexpectedly sturdy Black Sea, I had a lot of hope for Pressure as there have been some exciting ‘single location’ thrillers in the past few years. Frustratingly, this deep-sea diving drama sinks to the bottom both literally in its diving bell and creatively as it remarkably misses some huge potential.
Directed by Ron Scalpello, his second feature, the film focuses on four deep sea divers who get stuck 650ft below the surface of the Indian Ocean after a storm takes out their ship. This isn’t a spoiler as it’s the opening moments of the movie and there’s not much chance to build a background for any character.
Pressure is abundant with problematic issues that range from camerawork to awkward conversation. For starters, it lacks an alluring progressive narrative that includes offering up panic and tension far too early and consequentially loses its audience. The dive itself happens quite hurriedly and before we know it we’re underwater, things are going wrong and they’re falling to the ocean floor with the result being instant panic from all. The clichéd testosterone-fueled moments are funny, rather than serious, and could be handled better. It’s also a disappointing example of excessive editing and cut scenes, where the camera could have been held back, for longer and thus moments revealed differently. Everything moves too fast and instead of tension, it creates confusion.
By the time it temporarily calms down, someone is dead, the youngster member is having hallucinogenic dreams about naked girlfriends and all the classic things are going wrong. By trying to keep the energy high, the fear is lost. Matthew Goode does his best to bring his character life, complete with a slightly occasional American accent, and newcomer Joe Cole has strong moments as well. I’m not sure if Danny Huston is purposefully hamming it up but I’ve seen him do a lot better and he delves into a peculiar Liam Neeson-type performance later on.
The sad thing about Pressure is there are decent actors involved but with clichéd dialogue it doesn’t do anybody favours. They switch effortlessly, and too easily, between gritty hard-men and nervous wrecks making haphazard decisions. Frankly, halfway through the film, after laughing at what’s supposed to be utterly serious moments, you’d be just as content if none of them made it out alive by the end.
An empty vessel and treading water, Pressure is a great concept that sadly lacks a genuine connection and would benefit immensely from more focused direction and a stronger script.
Pressure review by Dan Bullock, August 2015.
Pressure is out in UK cinemas on Friday August 21. It’s also available on DVD from August 31.
