The Reel Review
A pop star and her bodyguard in 1990s Los Angeles must use their wits to survive the night when a delusional stalker escapes from a mental institution and enlists some helpers to take her captive so that he can marry her. Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson and Eric Dane star in this dark comedy/thriller.
The directorial debut of Weaving’s husband, Jimmy Warden (writer of Cocaine Bear and The Babysitter: Killer Queen) succeeds in being strange and stupid. Unfortunately, strange and stupid does not always equal good. Actingwise, Borderline is entertaining. Nicholson (Smile 2) and Weaving (Ready or Not) both do a fine job carrying the film as the crazed Duerson and pop star Sofia, but it is Alba Batista (Warrior Nun, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) who steals her scenes as the innocent looking but completely bonkers psychopath Penny, seething with jealousy that Duerson wants to marry Sofia and not her.
There are some funny moments, including those in which we see Duerson’s awesomely delusional perspective. The problem is that they are just too few and far between and saddled by a screenplay with uneven pacing – some comedy bits linger so long as to become cringeworthy. If you are in the mood for stupid comedy, Borderline is adequate, although it will leave most fans wanting more.
REEL FACTS
• Borderline writer/director Jimmy Warden has been married to Samara Weaving since 2019.
• Ray Nicholson is the son of Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson.
• Although set in Los Angeles, Borderline was filmed in Vancouver, Canada.
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