gaflick57 This film is absolutely camp, but unfortunately that doesn't make it funny, merely sad.It might have been possible to take the story line and produce a film with some credibility; however, at every odd twist and turn of the plot, the actors betray their characters in a most unconvincing manner. It's like they fell from outer space into the movie frame not knowing the kind of analytical and reasoning skills required to be even a rotten med school student. And that's just one example.There's very little dynamic tension (or should I say "pressure"), so that one often sees right through the action into the reality of the movie set. It's like watching a high school film project made on a single afternoon in the back yard, where the kids are trying to "act." On the technical side of things, location scouting, scenic design, cinematography, and editing actually are OK.I understand that Pressure was short on a tiny budget and in only a couple of weeks, but that doesn't excuse the lack of directorial insight and skill underlying the whole project.

movieman_kev Steve and Patrick, two med students on their way home from a little vacation, stop at a rundown bar just for one drink. While Patrick is having fun trying to make time with the cheerleaders, perhaps I neglected to mention there was a.cheer convention in town, but I digress, while he's there, poor Steve gets talked into escorting a local woman out into the parking lot where he's promptly mugged and under circumstances not under his control finds himself on the run from the law.It took me awhile to actually watch this movie, it's been in my Instant Netflix queue seemingly forever, and it's a shame that I didn't remedy that sooner, as I found this to be a pretty well-acted solid enough thriller. Some of the characters felt one-dimensional and the ending felt a tad rushed but a good little flick none the less. My Grade: B

dave-sturm I give this low-budget indie with no big name cast members 10 stars because it is does exactly what it sets out to do — keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The pace is relentless, the plot twists keep coming, the music pounds. Shoot outs? Oh yeah.Two medical students on their way home through Oregon stop at a rural roadhouse to take a nature call. The bar is packed with dancing cheerleaders (there's a cheerleader convention nearby), so why not stay for "just one beer." Before long, there's an altercation in the parking lot, someone gets shot and our boys are on the run in their Mustang, cops in hot pursuit. The stakes keep going up as more and more people get shot. There's even some black humor.This movie is pure muscle and bone. No fat. There's a quiet interlude when the boys run across a survivalist living in a cabin in the woods, but that's about it. It is almost reckless how tautly edited this movie is. Shot for shot, the climax on a remote bridge is so well shot it ought to be shown in film school.Plausibility? Not so much. It is full of "It just so happens that ..." moments. So what.For a pure adrenaline rush, you can't beat "Pressure."

guilfisher-1 This 2002 thriller was directed by Richard Gale. It's his second film and shows that he has a terrific talent in starting out as a director. He also co-wrote the screenplay and shared camera operation as well. He chose great locations that suited the theme of this tale. I really liked the bar location, outside and inside, and the bridge. He captured the mood. The fact that he did the shoot of this film in 16 days is a tribute to how well he knows his stuff. Can you imagine what he can do with a bigger budget and more time? Go for it, Richard. If there's one picky thing I want to touch on, it's the easy way our hero was led astray by our leading lady, played wonderfully by Angela Featherstone. Like, that he gives in to her after making such a fuss to his friend about not staying. Oh, well guess there wouldn't be any plot if he nixed her invitation. Our hero, played by Kerr Smith, one of my favorite actors, since he first came to my attention in DAWSON'S CREEK, gave an honest and realistic performance as a guy who becomes the victim of events. Smith gives an underplayed performance which I felt fit in this sordid tale. A lot of Montgomery Clift style to his work. How about a film on Clift's life? It was hard to take him at times when he just stood and watched the action going on around him. But, that's the script. Example when his friend races across the bridge screaming at the top of his lungs to fall down. When he sees someone taking aim at him. Poor Kerr just stands there looking at his friend. Oh, well, getting picky. As the friend, Lochlyn Munro was perfectly cast and did an amazing job playing second fiddle to Smith. They balanced each other in the right way. Maybe star them in remake of An American Werewolf In London? Munro had the right charm and nonsense particularly in the bar with his gang of cheerleader companions. He stole the scene. Then he turns around and gives the right amount of sensitivity in the more serious scenes. Adrien Darval plays the heavy in this and he convinced me. Reminded me a lot of Albert Salamni. He was brutally real and convincing. Veteran actor Donnelly Rhodes also plays an unlikable character as the Sheriff of this back woods country. He's thorough in his interpretation and adds the drama needed to take this seriously. Michaelle Harrison as the girl he left behind, showed quite a lot of chutzpa in her few scenes. She held her own with all the craziness going on around her. You believed her. And a special mention for the sensitive performance of the Deputy played by David Neale. They say part of the director's job is choosing his cast. He chose well in this film. Each and every actor did well and made this small budget film into a major successful work of art. Thanks, guys, you were terrific. Oh hell, I'm giving this a 10. And I'm getting the DVD too.