There is a whole library of World War II movies I’ve grown up with that focus upon the heroic efforts of the Allied forces, with the infamous D-Day landings at Normandy on 6 June 1944 often being at the forefront of those. Saving Private Ryan in particular captured the gruesome nature of the combat millions of troops had to endure. However, Pressure, the latest World War II epic, takes an entirely different approach, turning the subject matter of weather into a surprisingly gripping thriller.

Brought to the big screen by director and co-writer Anthony Maras alongside fellow scripter David Haig, Pressure follows chief meteorological officer and Royal Air Force Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) during the tense 72 hours before the planned D-Day landings on 5 June. General Dwight Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) is ready to proceed. 

Only there’s a problem. Stagg’s forecasts predict storms that would make the sea crossing almost impossible, forcing a postponement and potentially placing the fate of the entire war in jeopardy. Most do not share his concerns, particularly fellow meteorologist and trusted Eisenhower aide Irving Krick (Chris Messina), causing tensions to boil over and the possibility of disaster to loom constantly overhead.

Of course, Pressure is not just about the weather, even if it forms a huge part of the narrative. In the face of adversity and immense pressure from the officers above him, Stagg is forced to trust his expertise and stand firm in his judgement. By delivering deeply unwanted news and refusing to back down, he actually becomes quite heroic in nature because who knows what may have happened had he even wavered for a second. So while Pressure may not immediately sound like a thriller on paper, watching these tense and often gut wrenching conversations unfold is genuinely fascinating and at times utterly gripping.

The reason Pressure works as well as it does is largely due to the performances across the board, with Andrew Scott in particular being the standout. This is by no means a flashy performance destined to dominate awards headlines. In fact, his character often feels reluctant to even be there in the first place, something Scott captures brilliantly. At times he even comes across slightly irritating, but entirely for the right reasons. However, whenever Scott is on screen you are bolt upright hanging on every single word he has to say as though it has descended from the heavens.

Brendan Fraser is not really an actor that immediately springs to mind when you think of a World War II general and initially he does feel somewhat miscast. However, once the intensity begins to ramp up and Eisenhower’s temperament starts to shift, Fraser rises impressively to the challenge. Barking orders, commanding the screen and carrying the agonising weight of impossible decisions on his shoulders, he becomes far more compelling as the movie progresses.

There is undoubtedly a slight Oppenheimer feel to Pressure, albeit never getting remotely close to reaching those insane highs. Taking a story that on paper should feel rather mundane and uninteresting and somehow turning it into a compelling period drama is no easy feat. While Pressure certainly will not appeal to all audiences, those wanting to learn more about one of the most pivotal days in human history will find plenty to admire in a movie that is both informative and entertaining. Even beneath the heavy dramatisation, there remains something fascinating about watching the decisions that ultimately changed countless lives forever.

From a technical standpoint, Pressure is also extremely strong. Production designer Daniel Taylor alongside set decorators Lotty Sanna and Chloe Stanyon deserve immense credit for immersing audiences into the 1940s so effortlessly, while cinematographer Jamie Ramsay also excels by creating some genuinely beautiful shots throughout the runtime.

While Pressure is by no means perfect, with the inserted five minute montage of the D-Day landings during the climax especially feeling somewhat forced, the overwhelming sense of pressure from both within and outside the war room keeps the tension consistently engaging. The feeling that one wrong call could derail the entire operation hangs over the movie throughout and somehow manages to make weather forecasting genuinely exciting and absolutely worth watching on the big screen.