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No Gimmicks Or Cheap Parlor Tricks Here! Borderland is a fantastic film that keeps you interested without the use of Sex or Gore. While it has moments of both, those themes are not over used. I will not be going back to Mexico after watching this film.
It was pretty good and intense with the sense of dread throughout and brutal but it really didn't bring anything new to the genre but it was one of the better film of the horrorfest. Not a must see.
I've noticed that many of the torture movies are either American or European based, Europeans and Americans aren't the only people who enjoy that pleasure, what about south of the border? Mexico is the home and setting for this film. Essentially telling the accounts of three college students who go to Mexico for beer and girls and end up getting tangled with a sadistic cult. This was based off a very similar incident in the town of Matamoros in 1989, where the cult members removed the brains and spinal cords of the human sacrifices. This movie depicts the gross and gruesome bits of the story to full and blood red detail. The acting and emotions seemed very real and the most horrible part was the killings, in the sense that they were real at one point or the other. Whether or not these American teens really lived and died didn't matter, but the fates of those 12+ people are.
Lets get down to brass tax; the acting seemed pretty real and very emotionally driven. The chemistry that Brian Presley and Martha Higareda have together on screen was amazing and their characters were played off with dedication to the part. Jake Muxworthy and Rider Strong play Ed's (Presley) friends who accompany him. Muxworthy's performance was outstanding and seemed to have really gotten into his character. Rider Strong's performance during the first half of the movie can be debatable, but when he gets kidnapped by one of the cult members and tortured, his somewhat mediocre acting skyrockets to amazing. Damián Alcázar plays Ulises, a detective who seeking redemption and to avenge his partners death. His performance was outstanding and almost believable, especially in the prologue. Marco Bacuzzi, who plays the sadistic butcher of the cult, does a phenomenal job brining this calm evil character to life on the big screen. Through out the movie he guts people, takes their heads, arms, and eyes and backstabs them. His speaking parts were somewhat limited, as well as his character's on screen time but the parts that he did show up, were amazing. On an average, all of these actors and actresses did an amazing job giving life to such cliché-ridden teenagers. Their acting enhanced the illusion that these teenagers are real and that what is happening to them is realer.
The plot, as well as the way that the whole thing was shot, reminded me of Eli Roth's Hostel. In this case, this was a Mexican version of Hostel with a deeper subtext than Hostel. I don't know, something about this movie gave it depth, feel, emotion and style, but I can't put my hand on it. Even though the storyline, kids captured by cult members, has been milked so many times through out history, there was some key ingredient that made this movie work. There where parts where you can feel what the actors and going through, especially the torture, and points where you feel for the actors and actresses after loosing someone close. This film utilized close-up shots to the extreme, which in the process reminded me of Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi trilogy (El Mariachi, Desperado and Once Upon A Time in Mexico). Coincidently they all take place in Mexico and one has a cult-like group. I can also see a heavy influence of Texas Chainsaw in this film, including both recent and original. Teens being hunted down and brought to a house where they have to face torture and where the family of this house eat and make "things" out of human appendages. The only difference between these two films was that Texas Chainsaw was based off of Ed Gein, who killed for an unknown reason, while Borderland's satanic group was killing for a false god. The camera angles and they way that this movie was shot made it seem like there was somebody following around these teens with a camcorder and the establishing shots, as well as the social angles, were magnificently played out. This movie had a great warm tone to it, the way that any "South of the Border" movie should me shot. The characters gave this movie depth and feel, while the plot slowly drives you into mayhem and inevitably into a final confrontation of good and pure evil, a battle that is reminiscent of old spaghetti westerns and John Wayne movies. Overall, this movie was not jump out scary but more "Oh my god, that can't be happening. What are they doing?" scary. It of coarse had to have hot Mexican girls and beautiful looking Americans, which for me is a bit cliché and at points the movie seems a bit over the top but I like it. I would recommend this movie to those who enjoy torture horror, Texas Chainsaw, Hostel and early Robert Rodriguez flicks. I certainly like it.
Far better than what I was expecting. Although to be fair, I wasn't sure what to expect to begin with. All of the cast give exceptional performances. Thankfully there was no 'gore just there to be gore' vibe.
I liked this film alot. I was really looking forward to this one since I live in Mexico and what happens to these kids is definitely not out of the realm of possibility. There is people getting abducted and killed all the time down here so this film had a realness to it. It's not as bad as the news would have you believe but it definitley has me thinking about things now. Great movie.
The Horrorfest series has let me down over the past few months of watching them. Many of them ether lack a good plot or just aren’t creative. I own quite a few of the series and many collect dust on my shelf, Borderland wont.
This was a good film. The beginning is a little slow I felt but there’s and ere sense in the air as you watch. You have the ever present feel of uncertainty surrounding you as you watch these friends partake in vacationing pleasures. Then everything hits the fan and the movie takes off into a thriller filled with creativity, good acting and suspense.
The object I liked most about this movie was the restraint Berman observed. The plot of this film has plenty of space for a director to get the prop department goring everything up, however Zev didn’t give in to the temptation. I feel as of late many films are confusing good work with more gore and special effects. When I watch a film I want a good scare, creativity and proper use of gore. This movie hit all of the key points. Maybe less scare but this wasn’t a film based around how much blood we can squirt on people.
All and all I have to say this film had great aspects of realism, professionalism, and followed a good plot. This movie breathed life back into the Horrorfest series. Good flick give it a glance.
This movie was awesome it was completely worth my time it took a while to get. I ordered it from my local media store and it took like five months to come in. Teenage mischeif gone bad. Who in their right mind gets into a car with strangers any way. Apearently the kid from boy meets world. No but really it is good to see that Rider Strong is still going i guess. I really think he has carved a nitch for himself in the horror genre as a murder victim. With Cabin Fever behind him this movie was another notch on his belt. Their should be more horror movies with him as a victim. I also Loved the idea of a murderous cult making a sacrafice. This movie was worth ordering it. Not a bad movie at all. Human sacrafices and revenge what a wonderfull film. Excuse me Im off to watch Spun
Posted By: Slaser Maniac at 1:18pm, January 27, 2009
The second best horror movie. The movie revolves around a group of buddys in mexico and they get caught up in a cult. I loved the movie its a great horror movie. Could of used a better ending.
This is a great horror movie that is brilliantly written and directed and excellently acted. Great character development and brilliant acting gets you truly invested in these characters. That makes the horror more horrifying. This makes for a disturbing and devastating movie. Excellent job Bev Zerman.
Posted By: Protecious at 11:28am, September 30, 2008
I was surprised at how good some of the films to die for this year was, the first after dark film fest really bit the dust other than the gravedancers, which i felt was the only real solid one of the bunch. but this year is a real treat for the most part, Borderland is definatly one of their best offerings, well cast, good story, alot of violence, very original story that isnt always done alot, you feel you care for the characters and you fear the villians. which if that was the intention, as im sure it was, it succeeded very well with this.
This was a very well thought out and executed film in every sense.It was bold, and well shot. Very interesting and bloody at the right times.I highly enjoyed this film and what the director set out to do. We need more fresh talent like this working in horror and thriller films. Lord knows there is tons of crap out there.Kudos!!
Posted By: thedescent08 at 3:59pm, September 1, 2008
WOW! Just look at the last few years , we're starting to look a little bit more xenophobic more and more these days.Just how many movies have we seen in the past few years featuring stupid college kids that go partying in another country and end up dead? Is it because they don't respect the locals? Is it because they don't speak the language? Is it because they disrespected local customs with their arrogant attitudes,sexual promiscuity,partying,and drug use? Who knows really but overall we're looking good here as all these films feature young healthy libidoious Americans going to another country and ending up dead. Whether it be crazy black market organ pirate murderers in Brazil (Turistas), or there was even crazed Mayan temple cultist in Mexico (The Ruins)..but holy shit that doesn't even compare to drug dealing satan worshipping cults (in Mexico ..again..).
Pretty much I like this movie..good gore..Sean Astin as a bad guy (who still lisps) and plenty of gore and a few boobs (i think i cant remember)..and the hooker does anal..whats not to like
Go USA and don't cross borders or travel..you'll end up dead! RED WHITE AND BLUE!
I dug this film. It was a good time with good acting. While I watching I was really interested in the what the next scene was going to offer. I was a little skeptical with Rider Strong in it but he did a good job and Sean Astin was really good also hanging up his hobbit feet and nailing this character.
This was the best of horrorfest in my opinion. What is really great is the 30 minute documentary on the dvd that tells you the true story behind the film. Excellent film and its always nice to see a hobit pop up as a bad guy. Check it out.
This was a pretty good movie. I liked th eplot and story behind it also had some crazy death scenes. It had a very real and gritty feel to it which I think made it a pretty good horror\crime movie.
Zev Berman has saved the Horrorfest series with this film. It depicted the realization of the true story into a fiction thats real to you after you are done watching. Very few movies have that "this is real" feeling. Great work.
PCH
SPREAD THE DEAD!
