Writer/Director Richard Gale has made a tight film that keeps you at the edge of your seat. With the look of a much higher budget film, this indie film was surprisingly produced on a smaller budget. This is a film worth watching to see the makings of a good chase film. You have never seen the lead actor, Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek) act so strongly. Well-written and well-directed, Pressure is an example of an unassuming character, an everyman, pushed to the brink when one bad event after another befalls him. Buy this DVD to get a fair amount of special features commentary by Richard Gale, interviews of the cast, and the making of Pressure. If you are a film student and would want to observe how to make a good film on a tight budget, this is the dvd to get.

Putting a Best Word Forward.

Steve ('Dawson's Crees's Kerr Smith) and Patrick (Lochlyn Munro) are two med school students heading for California in a car. They are now in a small town in Oregon, where they drop in a local bar just for a rest. Or beer maybe. And a happy chatting with the cheerleaders. And, you know, all these are signs of a trouble they are about to get into, as Steve is mistaken for a vicious killer because of a bad cop (who shoots himself by silly accident), and his daddy, too.

This is no 'Fugitive' and there is no Harrison Ford, but the film is tightly made and never stops. Surprisingly, the two leads are very good as the two kids on the edge, so other supports, and the director Richard Gale is surely a talented one, who can use the country locations very effectively.

The story is pretty conventional, and you don't take any of the events seriously, but as a thriller it is above average. A good one for your midnight viewing, or the fans of the stars.

Sure it lacks the star power of today's thrillers and in truth it's a tad predictable at times, but "Pressure" is just so much fun to watch! Two med students make a stop at a highway bar where cheerleaders are partying. One of them gets pulled outside for a little extra lovin' and suddenly finds himself being the object of target practice for a hillbilly. As it turns out, this redneck is a cop and he ends up shooting himself right where it counts, then framing the med student, sending the whole state police and eventually the FBI after him, for a crime he didn't commit! Things just get worse and worse for our hero as the story gets closer and closer to its final confrontation in the woods. I found much to enjoy in this film and even though it's a direct-to-video. It's a really fun movie and, even though it doesn't jog your mind or anything, it sure takes you on a fun trip. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes suspense films like "Phone Booth."

A girl you just met at a bar two minutes ago is kissing you hot and heavy OUTSIDE the bar in the dark... Don't you suspect something? A guy is going to kill you for fun and he accidently hurts himself while he's tauting you? Take his head off! The lead guy was amazing! The smartest thing he does in the movie
is when he gives the miltitia dude his gun back! You've got to watch this for yourself. Stupid people doing stupid and dangerous things.....