Borderland Film Analysis: Scathing Critique Exposes Deficiencies

Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is on the verge of release, but early critical response paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and what audiences can expect.

A Critical Mauling, Despite Stellar Cast

Early reviews for the Borderlands film adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following the film's early US screenings, have voiced their disappointment across social media. Common criticisms include weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script.

Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a clueless executive's idea of 'cool.' No genuine emotional moments, just stale, outdated jokes. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess."

Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and dull screenplay, resulting in a cheap look despite impressive set design.

However, not all the feedback was entirely negative. Film critic Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart "save it from being a complete disaster," though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment: "Borderlands is a fun PG-13 action movie, relying heavily on Cate Blanchett’s star power—and she delivers."

Despite fan skepticism, the film, re-announced in 2020 after a period of inactivity, boasts a star-studded cast.

The movie follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with a group of misfits: Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap.

As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences can judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.