Based on director Phil Allocco's own short movie from 2005, The Mirror. 5lbs of Pressure sinks under its own weight of unoriginality and a banal script. Adam (Luke Evans) is out on parole after serving time for killing a youth. He has returned to his own neighbourhood to connect with his estranged wife and teenage son. His parole officer is not happy about this especially as Adam has also got a job as a bartender at the Mirror Bar. It's a recipe for disaster and Adam will violate his parole conditions. Eli is the brother of the youth that Adam killed 16 years earlier. When he learns that Adam is back, hr wrestles with his conscience as to whether to seek revenge. Mike (Rory Culkin) is a dim young man living under the shadow of his drug dealing uncle Leff (Alex Pettyfer.) He has looked out for Mike since his mum died. Now Mike wants to break out on his own and score a solo drug deal. Not realising that he is too naive and idiotic. Mike also recognised Adam as a killer. He also has an idea to rob the Mirror Bar and pin the blame on Adam. You just know these characters will collide one night. Cheaply made with the city of Manchester standing in for New York. It's not gritty or even that interesting. This kind of film has been done scores of time before and mostly better.

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