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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Borderland remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch Borderland? If you’re the kind of person who enjoys black-and-white westerns where the hero actually gets to be a bit of a grump, then yeah, put the kettle on. If you need complex subplots or modern pacing, stay away. This is pure 1940s comfort food.
It’s honestly refreshing to see Hoppy stop being the perfect gentleman for ten minutes. Seeing him be mean to children? It’s weird, but it works for the undercover act. He really leans into it.
The bad guy, Loco, is a hoot. He spends half the movie acting like he’s got no brain at all. It’s a classic trick, but watching him switch from 'local village idiot' to 'cold-blooded mastermind' is the best part of the whole runtime.
I noticed a scene where the background extras look like they’re just waiting for lunch. They’re standing in the street, not even pretending to do chores. One guy in a hat just stares at the camera for a solid five seconds. It’s hilariously distracting.
It’s a lot like The Vanishing Frontier in how it handles the landscape. The desert looks empty, hot, and kind of miserable. You can practically taste the dust on your teeth just by looking at the screen.
The movie doesn't try to be more than it is. That’s why I don’t hate it. It’s not trying to win awards or change the genre. It’s just trying to fill an hour with shootouts and plot twists that you can see coming from a mile away.
It reminded me a bit of the simplicity in Mickey's Covered Wagon, if you ignore the cartoons. Just people moving from one dusty shack to the next, pointing guns, and yelling about territory. Simple stuff.
I’ll be honest, the ending happens way too fast. One minute they’re planning, the next minute everyone is captured, and then it’s over. I was still eating my sandwich when the credits started rolling. 🤠