when fandom and obsession mix - a review of borderline (2025)
Image courtesy of Strike Media
Borderline is the debut feature film from Director Jimmy Warden, and Warden has arrived with a frenetic bang that is coupled with maniacal laughter. Warden is already known in the genre space as being a writer on Babysitter and Cocaine Bear, and the DNA of those films is present in Borderline, though now dialed up to 11 with Warren in the Director's chair.
The premise of this film is a relatively simple one, and I feel that has added to its overall strengths. The story revolves around the characters of Paul (Ray Nicholson) and Sofia (Samara Weaving). Sofia is an incredibly famous singer, and Paul is a fan who has an unhealthy obsession to the point he is classified as a stalker. Paul is a person with a mental illness which leads to him blending reality with fantasy, and Ray Nicholson does a great job in making us have empathy for Paul. I think fans of horror and genre cinema are all to familiar with mental illness being vilified and used as the cause of terror, so it was refreshing for me to see the character of Paul handled with such care.
The performances of both Ray Nicholson and Samara Weaving are grounded by Eric Dane who portrays Sofia's bodyguard Bell. The first major set piece of the film centres on an interaction between Bell and Paul outside of Sofia's home and lets you know that you are in for a film that will be exploring dark themes. Although there is some humour to the scene we watch unfold, underneath the humour is strong empathy towards Paul, which Bell is the conduit for. In the hands of a less competent director, this scene could come across as mean spirited, however under Warden's gentle gaze, you have compassion towards a person who is struggling.
The story jumps forward six months following the altercation between Bell and Paul, and this is when we get into the meat of the plot. Sofia is chilling in her house with her current romantic entanglement Jimmie (DeVante Rhodes), when we learn that Paul has escaped from the mental hospital where he was incarcerated. While putting the house on lockdown Bell gets a call from his childminder that a strange man is outside the apartment and staring at the window. Bell instructs her to call the police and that he will be there shortly. From the moment Bell leaves Sofia's house the film's pace picks up and refuses to let up until the credits roll. Warden shows his knowledge of the horror genre with some incredibly well executed tense set pieces that will have you squirming in your seat. We are also treated to multiple moments where the tension is broken up with knowing brevity, one particular scene focusing on a character recreating a dance scene from an Old Hollywood film.
Warden plays around with tone, but never takes you out of the scene you are in. I have often felt that the genres of horror and comedy are fraternal twins, not identical, but the similarities overlap so much that telling them apart can sometimes be difficult. However, as any fan of the genre knows, the horror-comedy is incredibly difficult to pull off successfully. I feel that Warden has managed to expertly balance the tone of this film, the moments of terror get under your skin, while the moments of humour leave you wondering if you should be laughing after what you've witnessed in the previous scene. Warden has crafted a well executed film that is elevated by the strong cast of players, in particular Nicholson and Weaving who light up the screen together.
Borderline is a film that took me completely by surprise, and I am excited for what projects Warden has lined up next. This is a director to keep an eye out for.
Borderline will be releasing on digital in the UK and Ireland on September 8th. You can watch the trailer HERE