Borderlands Has Dismal (And Rare) Rotten Tomatoes Score Debut
Summary
The stunt coordinator forBorderlandsreveals that the creative team shot the movie as if it was rated R. Based on the first-person shooter RPG video game of the same name, the movie adaptation will follow the story of a mysterious bounty hunter who returns to her home world Pandora, dubbed the most chaotic planet in the galaxy, in a mission to find Atlas' daughter. There, she teams up with a band of misfits. Directed by Eli Roth,Borderlandshas a star-studded castthat includes Cate Blanchett (Lilith), Kevin Hart (Roland), and Jack Black (Claptrap).
Eli Roth is also known for directingKnock Knock,The Green Inferno, andHostel.
In a new interview withScreen Rant, Borderlands’stunt coordinator Jimmy O’Dee revealed thatthe creative team filmed the movie like they were shooting a movie that was rated R. He shared this reveal when he was asked if it was difficult to reign things back for the film, saying that they were blowing people’s heads off and cutting off feet. He also spoke about Roth’s love for horror, who championed decisions in shooting that led to more gore. Read O’Dee’s full quote below:
We were shooting an R-rated movie when we did it. We always knew that we were going to go either 15 or R rating, it’s 15 in UK, for a slightly mature audience. So, we were blowing people’s heads off. And we were cutting feet off. We were doing all of that. But then, you know, a lot happens. We shot that nearly three years ago, or we just finished it. So, I guess a lot happens in post, and they see where it’s going to go and what market they’re aiming for. But literally the idea and the brief was carnage, head cutting off, feet cutting off. Go for it and then we’ll sort it out in post. It was that kind of thing.
And of course, Eli loves horror. He loves horror. It was funny, he was on the second unit, he came over, and he was like, “Uh… just cut the ankles off. Yeah, get the knife and cut the ankles and we will leave these stubs.” It was kind of like there wasn’t enough gore for him sometimes. Eli was all over that kind of stuff. He was great to work with. It was such a fun time with him.
Should Borderlands Have Been Rated R?
The Video Game Was Rated M For Mature.
The gameBorderlandsis based on is known for its black comedy and raunchiness, which usually veer toward violence with players blowing off heads and other body parts and a wide variety of guns in a dark, post-apocalyptic world. In addition, the game was rated M for mature, which further hints at its graphic violence. Despite its R-rated approach in filming,Borderlandshas an MPA rating of PG-13for intense sequences of violence, action, language, and some suggestive material.
So far, reviews forBorderlandshave called out the adaptation for its lackluster storytelling, uninspiring characters, and limits of the PG-13 rating on the violence.
Theofficial MPA rating forBorderlandswas met with quick disappointment from fans of the video gamewho were hoping to see the infamous violence adapted to the big screen. Roth’s own history with R-rated films added to that confusion, as the director was familiar with those kinds of visuals. For instance, Roth’s previous film, 2023’sThanksgiving, was a box office success and even earned the green light for a sequel despite its R-rating.
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However, rather than being faithful to the material, going for a PG-13 rating would open to a larger target audience. Despite attempts to mellow the violence, that decision may have hurt the movie’s success. So far,reviews forBorderlandshave called out the adaptation for its lackluster storytelling, uninspiring characters, and limits of the PG-13 rating on the violence. Therefore, the reveal thatBorderlandswas shot like an R-rated movie only makes matters worse, as it had a chance to be a faithful adaptation of the video game, only for that opportunity to be spoiled.
Borderlands
Cast
Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl - all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
