Review: The Borderlands
Blu-ray: The Borderlands (2013)
So amazingly, here’s a film that passed me by in 2013, and seeing a trailer of it I assumed I must have given it a miss as it looks a bit…cheap, and somewhat…wonky. But as we know dear reader, you can’t judge a film by its trailer. So yes, it is a bit cheap and maybe a little bit wonky, but this is individual and a refreshing take on folk horror. You know, that sort of horror that can ONLY be made about and IN Britain.
The film is about a small group of Vatican investigators researching an old church which once may have been the site of a religious miracle.
Gray Parker is the tech guy, and obviously doesn’t believe in God, ghosts or miracles, while Deacon is a priest (in ordinary clothes so you don’t really know what he is at the beginning), who may have lost his faith (he drinks a lot of wine) and are later joined by Mark Amidon…an ambitious priest.
They arrive in Devon to investigate a recently reopened, thirteenth century church that’s run by the local priest Father Crellick. He tells them a miracle has happened and shows them footage of objects on the altar moving. Deacon remains sceptical and offers answers, like strings being attached and pulled to make things fall over.
Later that night some local kids burn a sheep to death outside the men’s cottage. (Featuring a sound design that gave me chills…Dave).
It’s got this feeling of menace throughout, strange noises, things move and what’s behind that panel in the church…? This feeling of dread escalates as Deacon seems to be losing it and drinking more. Father Crellick then leaps off the top of the church, and Father Amidon declares the investigation is over, nothing happened and he’s back off to Rome. It appears the church is built on a Pagan site.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why this is a watchable film, I think for me it’s the throwback Hammer folk horrorness of it, there are no women, it’s all men being a bit scared. It’s not some glossy, Hollywood nonsense, it’s almost … this could really happen. There is not huge revelation or any jump-scares, it’s a slow burn, and it makes you feel a bit Icky.
If you like folk horror and fancy something different, The Borderlands is a good one.
Also, make sure to listen to the audio commentary by Actors Robin Hill and Gordon Kennedy, Producer Jennifer Handorf and Special Effects Artist Dan Martin…it’s very entertaining. As is the lively new interview with Robin Hill and Gordon Kennedy.
Special Features
- New audio commentary by Actors Robin Hill and Gordon Kennedy, Producer Jennifer Handorf and Special Effects Artist Dan Martin
- Dressed the Part: a new interview with Robin Hill and Gordon Kennedy
- Losing Faith: a new interview with Jennifer Handorf
- Monster Goo: a new interview with Dan Martin
- Archive featurette: Behind the Scenes
Limited Edition Contents
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Christopher Shy
- 70-page book with new essays by Tim Coleman, Martyn Conterio, Shellie McMurdo and Johnny Walker
- 6 collectors’ art cards
Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Second Sight Films via Aim Publicity.
