BORDERLINE -- Eccentric Thriller is Passionate but Inconsistent

Review by Camden Ferrell

​Jimmy Warden is a name you might be familiar with as he was the writer of Cocaine Bear, which became a bit of a cultural phenomenon and box office success in 2023 due to its absurd premise. Now, it seems he has earned himself a shot in the director’s chair with his newest movie Borderline, which he also wrote. He doesn’t break any new ground as far as horror stories about celebrity obsession go, but he does infuse his own brand of eccentricity and outlandish humor to mixed effects.
 
Sofia is a pop superstar, and Duerson is a dangerous and delusional stalker who thinks they’re in love. When he breaks out of his mental institution in order to put on the wedding of his dreams, Sofia finds herself in an intense fight for survival with a man who is as unpredictable as he is passionate. Immediately, comparisons to Misery and other works may come to mind, but Warden definitely has a unique tone that he brings to help differentiate the story beneath its surface.
 
Warden’s script is probably what I found weakest about this movie even though I would say it worked more than it didn’t. It feels incredibly conventional in its narrative, and while it has a few curveballs, it doesn’t feel daring or unpredictable enough for a film in this genre. On top of that, it gets very close to diving deeper into its cast of characters, but he always seems to pull back before anything substantial can emerge. It’s a short movie, and I think a few more minutes of character development could have done wonders for the final product.

One thing that I can say about the performances is that they are committed for better or worse. Samara Weaving is a reliable horror protagonist, and this movie is no different. She has natural charisma for this type of role even if it isn’t much different than what she’s done in other films. Ray Nicholson co-leads as Duerson, and he definitely gives maximum effort in his role. It teeters between caricature and genuine insanity in a way that is messy but ultimately quite interesting to see. It’s hard not to watch him and think of his dad, but it’s clear he’s trying to forge a unique and bold niche for himself in this film.
 
The aspect I was most impressed with was Duerson’s direction and the surprisingly gorgeous cinematography of Michael Alden Lloyd. There are multiple scenes, shots, sequences, etc. where these two artists work together to achieve their vision, which is quite captivating. It seems like there was love and care in the way they visually crafted this story, and it helps overcome to movie’s flaws occasionally. I think Warden’s direction in this movie proves that he has something special inside of him and that even if it’s not fully developed yet, he’s someone we should keep an eye on.
 
Borderline may not be the best its genre has to offer, but there are inklings of brilliance shining throughout in various aspects. It may be occasionally inconsistent in tone, and it may also adhere to strongly to narrative convention, but this movie cannot be accused of being passionless. It’s very clear that everyone working on this truly gave it their all, and it’s a bit of a beautiful mess in that regard.
 
Borderline is in theaters and on VOD March 14.
 
Rating: 3/5