The Borderlands (2013 film)
| The Borderlands | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Elliot Goldner |
| Produced by |
Jennifer Handorf Jezz Vernon |
| Written by | Elliot Goldner |
| Starring |
Gordon Kennedy Robin Hill Aidan McArdle |
| Cinematography | Eben Bolter |
| Edited by |
Will Gilbey Jacob Proctor Mark Towns |
Production companies |
Metrodome Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Borderlands is a 2013 British found footage horror film and the feature film directorial debut of Elliot Goldner, who also wrote the movie's script.[1] It had its world premiere on 24 August 2013 at the London FrightFest Film Festival and centers upon a group of Vatican investigators researching an old church rumored to be the site of a miracle.[2]
Synopsis
Three men are sent by the Vatican to investigate reports of supernatural activity in an old church located in a secluded part of the English countryside - Deacon, a Scottish priest with a reputation for skepticism who has debunked several claims of paranormal activity and who is emotionally scarred by a disastrous investigation of a Brazilian church a year previously, Gray, a layperson and technology expert from London hired to document the proceedings, and Amidon, a priest who harbors ill feelings towards Deacon.
The team takes up residence in a house in a nearby village. Upon their first visit to the church they encounter the local priest, Father Crellick, who claims that a miracle has taken place. Cameras and microphones placed on the site by Gray capture footage of objects on the altar mysteriously moving during a sermon being delivered by Crellick. Gray is disturbed by this but Deacon remains skeptical, speculating that a sub-woofer placed somewhere within the church grounds could be emanating sound waves that would cause the disruption. Footage captured later that night as an anguished Crellick prays alone in the church shows further disturbances as objects fall from the walls.
The inhabitants of the village start to behave with hostility towards the team. Local youths burn an animal to death outside the house where the men are staying and the local pub landlord evicts Deacon and Gray from his premises after overhearing the two men discussing local folklore. Deacon cites research that shows the area was once a hotbed of pagan worship in the distant past while Gray, increasingly convinced of supernatural forces at work, speculates on the credibility of believing the tenets of the old religions versus those of Christianity.
The following day Crellick, doubting whether he's been experiencing a miracle or something worse, commits suicide in front of Gray by throwing himself from the roof of the church. In response to this Deacon brings in an elderly exorcist from the Vatican, Father Calvino, in an attempt to purify the church grounds. Calvino brings evidence that the church is situated on a site that once played host to human sacrifices to a unnamed pagan deity that was worshiped by the pre-Christian inhabitants of the area centuries ago.
That night, during the exorcism, violent and invisible forces shake the church, knocking out the lights. Calvino and Amidon mysteriously vanish but Deacon traces Calvino's distant cries to a hidden tunnel leading underground. As Gray and Deacon descend into a subterranean labyrinth, they find evidence of child sacrifice as the bones of many infants are found piled against a wall. Seemingly spotting Amidon, who walks into the darkness heedless of their calls, the men find Calvino's ornamental crucifix on the floor of one of the tunnels. Following the sound of Amidon's voice, they crawl through a narrow passageway that suddenly contracts via a membranous material. Turning around to escape back the way they came, they realize with alarm that the entrance has closed too before the tunnel itself begins to move. The walls begin to secrete a powerful digestive enzyme which horribly burns the two men. As their equipment begins to fail and the lights go out, Gray screams in agony and terror while a tormented Deacon recites the Lord's Prayer.
At the close of the credits, an unseen voice can be heard exclaiming, "He didn't even say Mass!"
Cast
- Gordon Kennedy as Deacon
- Robin Hill as Gray Parker
- Aidan McArdle as Father Mark Amidon
- Sarah Annis as Mrs. Proudley
- Lee Arnold as Priest
- Drew Casson as Punched Youth
- Peter Charlton as Old Man
- Marcus Cunningham as Mr. Proudley
- Patrick Godfrey as Father Calvino
- Kevin Johnson as Jim
- Luke Neal as Father Crellick
Reception
Critical reception for The Borderlands has been predominantly positive and the film holds a rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews.[3][4] Common elements of praise centered upon the acting and the interactions between Gordon Kennedy and Robin Hill's characters,[5][6] and Radio Times commented that "It's the pair's easy-going chemistry that firmly anchors this slow-burning shocker, whose rural setting deliberately evokes The Wicker Man".[7] Time Out London and The Hollywood Reporter both gave mixed reviews for the film,[8] and The Hollywood Reporter wrote that it has "plenty of chilling atmosphere but lacks bite".[9]
References
- ↑ Zimmerman, Samuel. "EXCL Stills: Beyond Fest British Invasion Film, "THE BORDERLANDS"". Fangoria. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas. "Buyers take to Salt's Borderlands". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ "THE BORDERLANDS (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Hatfull, Jonathan. "THE BORDERLANDS FILM REVIEW". SciFiNow. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Jones, Gareth. "Borderlands, The (review)". Dread Central. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Lambie, Ryan. "The Borderlands (review)". Den of Geek. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Jones, Alan. "The Borderlands (review)". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Huddleston, Tom. "The Borderlands (review)". Time Out London. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Dalton, Stephen. "The Borderlands: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 October 2014.