Pioneer review

Set in the ‘70s and early ‘80S, this conspiracy thriller recounts the true-life tale of the Norwegian divers who risked their lives to lay a pipeline on the ocean floor when oil and gas were discovered in the North Sea.

Headhunters ’ Aksel Hennie rocks a quality moustache as star frogman Petter, determined to blow the whistle on corporate foul play.

Pioneer features underwater sequences so breathless they’ll thrill even James Cameron (director Erik Skjoldbjærg made the original Insomnia ) but Petter’s truth-chasing is at times too frantic and melodramatic.

The string score, meanwhile – all frets and threats – drowns the action.