DVD & BluRay

5LBS OF PRESSURE Signature, cert 15; On Prime Video

Just to clear things up regarding that title, it refers to the pressure necessary to pull a handgun’s trigger, and that tells you something about the film.

The setting’s New York, but anyone trying to spot locations from superior films like Mean Streets will search in vain - because it was shot in Manchester! That explains why it’s British actor Luke Evans (pictured) who plays the lead part of Adam DeSalvo, a loser who served a long stretch in prison for murder during a gang turf feud between young hotheads, and is coming to the end of three years probation.

So, is he going to keep his nose clean having learned his lesson? Hmm, instead of making a fresh start DeSalvo heads back to his old neighbourhood where memories are long and violence is on a hair-trigger (it won’t take 5lbs to set it off!).

He’s seeking redemption, but hits a rocky road getting there. Prison broke up his happy relationship with partner Donna (Stephanie

Leonidas), But Adam’s hoping he can at least connect with his now-teenage son Jimmy (Rudy Pankow ) who doesn’t even know his dad, and thinks he’s a stranger when he intervenes to stop him being bullied at a street basketball court. Meanwhile, Eli (Zac Adams) has learned that his brother’s killer has returned to the neighbourhood and he isn’t overcome with forgiveness. He wants revenge.

Sadly at times it gets bogged down with too many support characters who aren’t particularly interesting and don’t add to the thrust of the main plot, but distract your attention. Too much pressure on screen time.