A helplessly romantic sociopath escapes from a mental institution and invades the home of a '90s pop superstar. He just wants to be loved; she just wants to survive.
Director: Jimmy Warden
Cast: Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Jimmie Fails, Alba Baptista, Eric Dane
Release Date: March 14, 2025/UK Digital release September 8th 2025
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller
Rated R for violence and language
Runtime: 1h 34m
Review:
Writer turned director, Jimmy Warden, debut film is a fun, if uneven comedy elevated by a strong comedic turn from Samara Weaving and a wonderfully unhinged performance from Ray Nicholson. Warden seems to be brimming with ideas he wants to toy with which makes the breezy runtime feel more chaotic than it needed to be. He's got a solid eye for visuals as he delivers a handful of well-crafted sequences that are sure to linger in your memory after the film ends, particularly one involving a certain Celine Dion song. He does struggle with keeping a consistent tone as the film swings from over the top comedy to something darker and much more off kilter. It makes for a herky jerky experience as we get inspired moments of madness followed by some dead spaces that kills the momentum. Thankfully, his cast proves to be more than capable of carrying the film over the majority of these bumps in the road. Samara Weaving flexes her impressive comedic muscles as the self centered singer/actress that fuels Ray Nicholson's Duerson obsession. Her reactions are hilarious throughout as she reacts to the insanity provided by Nicholson and scene stealer Alba Baptista. This film offers Ray Nicholson a wonderful showcase for his acting chops as he gets plenty of time to shine. At this point in his career, it’s difficult not to see bits of his father come through especially in a role like this but that's not to say he isn't immensely talented in his own right. Alba Baptista proves to be the real surprise here though as she brings her own brand of insanity to her role as a fellow escaped mental patient. It’s a shame that the role is painfully underwritten because she could have really done something special with a better script. Eric Dane gets the thankless job of being the straight man here which he can do in his sleep as Weaving steadfast bodyguard. All in all, Borderline may not be a perfect entity, but it is entertaining enough, primarily thanks to its cast, to overlook some of its more glaring flaws.
B-
