Borderline is a new comedy thriller that premiered on VOD and in select theaters this past weekend. In his directorial debut, the film is written & directed by Jimmy Warden, and stars Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Jammie Fails, Alba Baptista, and Eric Dane. Set in 1990s Los Angeles, pop star, Sofia (Weaving), has her home broken into by obsessive fan, Duerson (Nicholson) who delusively believes they are to get married and manipulates their surroundings to create a wedding atmosphere.

I’ll pretty much watch anything Samara Weaving is in. She has proven to be talented time and time again. Even with a bizarre release rollout, I was still interested. To my surprise, I didn’t know Ray Nicholson was in it until a few days prior. Since seeing him in Smile 2, his small role left an everlasting impression. He also had another film come out this weekend titled Novocaine. You can tell where he is somewhat playing the same character in all three films, but he is so good at doing it.

If there is one thing the film does well, it’s how original it is. The structure and the way it plays out keeps things engaging. Writer & director Jimmy Warden is actually married to Samara Weaving. You’d think that would be a good way to get his foot in the door, but you can tell where he truly worked hard to get this film made. Depending on where you look, the synopsis is different. I am avoiding the other synopsis, because I looked at the other one. When the first act concludes, I was completely confused as to what was going on. Needless to say, it is very original.

Ray Nicholson is the son of legendary film actor Jack Nicholson. You can tell where Ray is picking up on mannerisms from his father that is helping him standout. He is stellar at being unhinged. He makes it look so effortless and is so locked in every time he is on screen. He is as terrifying as he is as humorous. He makes the film work from start to finish, for better or worse.

Samara Weaving is good in the lead role, but her lack of characterization leaves much to be desired. She understands what the film is going for. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t give her character enough time to shine or care about. Her chemistry with Jimmie Fails, another talented actor, is non-existent. I’m not really sure if Jimmy Warden felt uncomfortable with displaying a real relationship since his real-life wife is in the film. More time dedicated to their characters before where the movie starts would really help develop their characters.

Eric Dane, who many might be familiar with from Euphoria, is different and quite good in the role of Sofia’s bodyguard. I appreciate him playing a softer side than what we know. His character perhaps takes the most unique direction out of all of the characters, but it can get repetitive and a bit predictable. Still, I enjoyed how the film focuses more on than just what the plot is about through characters such as the one Eric Dane plays.

The film’s structure is very playful. This is the type of original film that viewers are asking for. There is a specific one-take shot that really stood out to me that is hilarious and fun. The concepts Warden also plays with also help the film stand out from the rest with creating an unpredictable world where anything could happen.

The film can also faulter at the wayside. There are missed opportunities at exploring the themes of mental health and trying to have people get the help they need. Warden is mostly focused in the concept that everything else doesn’t quite hold up. The pacing can be sort of hit-or-miss especially with the third act that could have been improved through the editing.

Overall, Borderline is fun, hilarious, and unpredictable anchored by an unhinged performance from Ray Nicholson. That guy is going place. The film tends to fall by the wayside through its editing, lack of character development, and not exploring its themes enough. If you are looking for a good time where you can enjoy yourself, I recommend checking this one out.

VERDICT: 3/5 (Good)