The Fantasy Review’s review of Borderline (2025).
This is exactly what the doctor ordered. Ray Nicholson going insane in an off-beat home invasion-esque romp with Samara Weaving. It was everything I could have hoped for and more.
Spoiler-Free Review of Borderline (2025)
Borderline manages to be coyly pretentious, delivering gorgeous shots, sets, and scenes, with a bang-on soundtrack, while knowing it’s a silly flick. But secretly, it’s clever. Or, is it secretly dumb, pretending to secretly be clever?
I don’t have an answer for that. What I do know, however, is that Borderline is the best movie I have seen from 2025 – and I don’t think it will be beaten.
Ray Nicholson delivers a performance impossible to separate from his father’s iconic role in The Shining, but I want to. Nicholson is never terrifying or bone-chilling, but there is an unease in his body language that had me on the edge of my seat in moments during the film.
Samara Weaving is once again in a movie with a bad marriage, and she’s quickly becoming a favourite horror actor. With great movies like The Babysitter and Ready or Not, this latest movie cements her excellence in the genre.
If you come to Borderline (2025) looking for a scary horror movie experience, you’re not going to get it. This is more like the Hot Fuzz of the home invasion sub-genre – and it works perfectly.
The only weak elements of this movie are characterisation and plot, which would normally be an issue, but those weaknesses only allowed the oddness and weirdness to flow with less friction. And I never say that.
There’s something special about Borderline I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it’s the humour? Whether it’s the insane duet that had me howling, or the cute dance number we get from the cop, experiencing this film was a joy.
Take the time this year to check out this movie, even if it’s the only thing you watch. It’s stylish, funny, self-deprecating in a clever way, and the performances are incredible across the board.
