PRESSURE

UK, 2015, 91 minutes, Colour.

Danny Huston, Matthew Goode, Joe Cole, Alan Mc Kenna.

Directed by Ron Scalpello.

Over the decades, audiences have become familiar with dramas of men trapped under water, mainly in submarines, Morning Departure in the 1950s, K-19, The Crimson Tide…

This brief feature has men trapped in a submersible vehicle. They are part of a crew in the Indian Ocean, continually threatened by a pirates as well is bad weather, who have to go down to check on lines of communication. As expected, the film spends some time initially highlighting each of the characters, their strength of character, their limitations. Matthew Goode is the rather straight up-and-down person in charge. Danny Houston is the older, rather ambiguous participant who is burdened by memories of accident and guilt. Joe Cole is the young man, rather inexperience, memories of his girlfriend. Alan McKenna plays a gruff member of the team with some expertise.

There is drama in the interactions of the men on the ocean floor. As expected, there are difficulties with dealing with the problems, difficulties with the sudden legible, loss of contact with the surface, the grim discovery that their ship has sunk, heroic attempts to explore the difficulties, injuries, psychological trauma, some contact with a passing ship.

This is a story of men facing the reality of death, the chair in their own way, some self-sacrifice, and one survivor.

1. A trapped-in-a-submersible drama? The fixed location, claustrophobic? In the depths of the ocean? The ocean sequences?
2. The title, the pressure on the submersible, on those within, those in action in the water? Oxygen levels?
3. The basic plot, the ship, the ocean, repairs, the threat of local pirates, the oncoming storm, international communications, Chinese and Russians, the potential for disaster?
4. The four characters, on the boat, their skills and reputations, Mitchell, in charge, solid and reliable, handling the situation? Engel, his memories of the past, the deaths, his not saving the little girl? Jones, young, married, memories? Hurst, veteran, critical, the need for his expertise?
5. The mother ship, the commander, communications, the discovery that the ship had been destroyed, on the ocean bed?
6. The group, the descent, the repairs, discovery of the ship? The cords and links? Hurst, his interactions with the group, sometimes abrasive, supportive of Jones? Going into the water, his death?
7. The critical situation, Mitchell, the discussions, following the rules, communications, giving the information? Going to the surface? His death?
8. Engel, going out, trying to get the connections, his being overcome, put back into the module? Revived? Alone with Jones? The discussions, memories? Fears? His urging Jones to go to the surface? His own memories, wanting to save someone? The water rising, going underwater, his death?
9. Jones, age, inexperience, fears, doing his jobs, interactions with the other men? The confrontations, the lack of oxygen, Engel persuading him to go to the surface, unwilling? The blood from his mouth, going to the surface, the rescue? A glimpse of a happy ending?