MOVIE REVIEW: Borderland

Watching this movie made me realize how awful it will be to watch films without my mom. Her love of horror is the reason I got into it. Everyone I know is a chicken and refuses to watch them with me. Oh well, enough of the sob story, onto the review.

I've wanted to see this film for ages because I heard it's one of the better Horrorfest flicks and I love Rider Strong. It was released as a part of After Dark Horrorfest 2007, so it's only been out for three years.

The After Dark Horrorfest films always have intrigued me because they're "too graphic, too disturbing, and too shocking for general audiences". Or so they claim during the previews of the Horrorfest flicks. And it's exciting to have eight brand-new, never before seen horror films released all at once. Unfortunately, the few I've seen have been hit and miss. I still want to watch them all, though.

Borderland wasn't a complete miss, but I'm still disappointed after having sky-high expectations.

Based on true events which took place in 1989, Borderland tells the story of three college graduates who head to Mexico to party. But when one of them goes missing, the fun stops and their search for their friend leads them to a Satanic cult.

The plot isn't anything new, but the fact that it actually happened is chilling. And despite a few scenes of brutal violence, this film could be considered more of a drama or thriller.

But my biggest complaint is that Borderland takes awhile for something exciting to happen, and even then the pace is sporadic.

The performances are great, especially from Rider Strong, who I know as my crush on Boy Meets World, but most horror fans should know him from Cabin Fever. Apparently Sean Astin plays a bad guy in this film as well, but I didn't even notice until I looked up Borderland on Imdb later. If you're not familiar with Astin, I think he was Sam (?) in Lord of the Rings (not sure of his name because I'm not a big LOTR fan), but I know him best as Dave in Encino Man.

While it wasn't horrible, it wasn't great and I don't highly recommend it. It would make an okay rental, just don't set your expectations too high like I did.

Rating: 3/5

MOVIE NEWS: After Dark Horrorfest 4

After Dark Horrorfest 4 was released in theatres yesterday. Unfortunately, I live in Canada and won't get the chance to see the films in the theatre and will have to wait for the DVD releases. But hopefully you get the chance to see them, and if you do, let me know what you think. Judging by these trailers, they all look interesting.

Dread

Dread, the second in the Book of Blood franchise is a stylish horror/thriller about three college students working on a documentary for school focusing on what others dread in life.



The Final

After receiving a lake-house granted to him in his uncle’s will, Dane and his friends, Jack, Ravi, Andy and Emily prepare for a single night that will leave their tormentors scarred for life…physically and emotionally.



The Graves

On their last weekend together, two girls are lost in a remote part of the Arizona desert where they are lured to Skull City Mine, an abandoned mine town. But they soon learn Skull City is anything but abandoned, and there’s no way out.



Hidden

A man unwillingly returns to the small town he ran from 19 years ago. His cruel mother has recently died, and left him the house he grew up in and soon is entangled up in a series of events that seem beyond anyone’s control….



Kill Theory

Are you capable of the unthinkable? That’s the question seven college students face when they visit a secluded vacation home to celebrate graduation and are put to a horrific test by a mysterious killer.



Lake Mungo

A sixteen-year-old girl drowns while swimming in the local dam. With a verdict of accidental death, her grieving family buries her. A series of clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where her secret past emerges.



The Reeds

A weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads becomes a terrifying, deadly ordeal for six 20-something friends.



ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction

A conservative island community is under attack! Port Gamble, WA is being overrun with braineaters, and a rag tag band of rebels try to turn the tide and push the invading hoards of undead back.