Borderlands Film Faces Woes Beyond Critics

The Borderlands movie is facing a turbulent premiere, plagued by scathing reviews and a credit controversy. Despite its recent release, the film has garnered overwhelmingly negative feedback from prominent critics.

Borderlands Movie's Rocky Start

Uncredited Crew Member Speaks Out

Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation is experiencing a difficult opening week, with a dismal 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 critic reviews. Critics have been unsparing in their assessments. Donald Clarke of the Irish Times suggested viewers might "wish for an escape button" to avoid the film's "nonsense," while Amy Nicholson of the New York Times praised some design aspects but found the humor lacking.

Early social media reactions echoed the negative sentiment, describing the film as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." However, a segment of Borderlands fans and general moviegoers seem to appreciate the film's action and over-the-top style, resulting in a more favorable 49% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer stated, "I went in with low expectations, but I truly loved it," while another praised the action but acknowledged some plot changes might confuse fans.

The film's problems extend beyond poor reviews. Freelance rigger Robbie Reid, who worked on the Claptrap character, recently revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that neither he nor the character's modeler received screen credit. Reid expressed his disappointment, highlighting that this was the first time in his career he hadn't been credited, particularly for such a significant character. He attributed the omission to him and the artist leaving their studio in 2021, noting that such oversights are unfortunately common in the industry. He concluded by expressing hope that the situation might lead to positive change regarding crediting artists.