Under Pressure: A Gritty Tunnel Race That Feels Like Yesterday

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you dig movies about guys who are constantly covered in muck and shouting over the sound of heavy machinery, Under Pressure is basically your holy grail. It’s a total time capsule of 1930s industrial grit. If you need clean lines, subtle character arcs, or a plot that isn't essentially a soap opera set in a pipe, you’re probably gonna hate it. It’s not exactly deep, but man, it feels real.

There is this one scene where they are arguing about tunnel progress, and I swear, the dirt on their faces changes consistency from one shot to the next. It’s almost funny if you’re paying attention. Maybe they ran out of the good makeup mud on Tuesday?

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The whole premise is just a bunch of guys obsessed with finishing a tunnel before the other crew. It’s weirdly high-stakes for something that mostly involves shoveling. You can feel the tension in the air, but it’s mostly just masculine posturing. It reminded me a bit of the raw, desperate energy you see in Freaks, though obviously in a very different context. Same sort of 'us against the world' vibe, I guess.

• The dialogue is punchy. Like, really punchy.
• The underwater lighting makes everyone look like they’re being haunted by their own shadows.
• Victor McLaglen is basically a walking boulder.

I found myself zoning out during the romance subplot. It feels like someone just shoved a woman into the script because the studio demanded a reason for the guys to fight. She deserves better, honestly. She’s just standing there while these two alpha-types grunt at each other.

The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes it moves fast, then it stops dead for a long, awkward conversation about 'the job.' You can almost see the actors waiting for their marks. It’s not perfect, but it’s got a weird, frantic pulse to it that keeps you watching.

There’s a moment near the end where the tunnel starts to leak, and it actually feels pretty terrifying. No CGI, just a lot of water and panicked extras running around. It reminded me of some of the old-school practical tension in The Devil Horse—just pure, unadulterated chaos captured on film. I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece. But it’s definitely not boring.

Also, does anyone actually talk like these guys do? It’s all 'Listen here, see!' and chest-thumping. It’s charming in a very dated, loud way. I guess you just have to lean into the absurdity of it all. It’s a movie that knows exactly what it is and doesn't bother trying to be high art. Which is refreshing, really.