Borderline (2025) Review
A mix between taking advantage of how much Ray Nicholson looks like his father and the name recognition of Samara Weaving only to make Alba Baptista the most interesting part of “Borderline.”
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Borderline” Film Details
| Runtime | 1 Hour(s) and 34 Minutes |
| Release Date (Digital) | March 21, 2025 |
| Advisory (MPAA) Film Rating | Rated R |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Crime, Horror, Thriller |
| Director(s) | Jimmy Warden |
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Warden |
| Distributor | Magnet Releasing |
Summary
Sofia, in the 90s, is in the same league as Cindy Lauper and Madonna. She has hit records, has performed in movies, and is a fun loving, It-girl who enjoys the privileges her life provides her. Unfortunately though, the admiration for her art comes with unfortunate bits, like those who become obsessed with her, like Paul.
Paul is a stalker, who is dangerous, and believes he and Sofia are engaged to soon be married. “Borderline” focuses on Sofia, her body guard William, and a Dennis Rodman-esque basketball player, Devante, trying to survive the night Paul arranges to finally make this fantasy of marrying Sofia become reality.
Cast and Character(s)
Sofia (Samara Weaving)
Sofia is a major pop star who is single, likes to mingle, and hates being bored. However, this doesn’t mean she wants obsessed fans like Paul keeping her on her toes.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Hollywood.”
Paul (Ray Nicholson)
Potentially traumatized by something which happened at a Sofia concert, since that moment, it seems Paul has been fixated on Sofia and wants to marry her, and potentially kill her.
- The actor is also known for their role in “I Love You Forever.”
William (Eric Dane)
William is Sofia’s bodyguard who makes sometimes perplexing decisions regarding her safety, and his own.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Euphoria.”
Devante (Jimmie Fails)
Devante is a famous basketball player that Sofia is seeing.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Wish You Were Here.”
Penelope aka Penny (Alba Baptista)
Penelope is from the same mental institution Paul was at and has become one of his accomplices in getting Sofia to the altar.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.”
Review
Highlight(s)
Ray Nicholson Is Definitely His Father’s Son [81/100]
Nicholson’s take on a mad character really pushes you to see glimpses of his father’s past work. The smile, the laugh, the almost Joker means of embracing the environment with a childish gleam, it really feels like the second coming of his legendary father. Which isn’t to say Nicholson isn’t on the path of establishing himself as a individual, but if you were to follow anyone’s path and be compared to them, Jack Nicholson isn’t a bad act to follow.
Penelope [84/100]
The Nice, France born character Penelope at times steals the film. Her brand of madness feels contained in a box that can barely hold her, and as you see her murder people, sing beautifully with Sofia, and truly embrace the ideas of being an unhinged character, she can quickly become your favorite. But what pushes the role to be worth highlighting is that, while Nicholson feels like he is playing up Paul’s form of crazy for the cameras, Baptista as Penelope, or Penny, seems to be more focused on just playing someone who is crazy.
The difference is why at times you may wish Penny was a lone stalker, someone enamored with Sofia, and Paul and his antics were removed. For as much as you may enjoy Nicholson, and he can even be a highlight, there is a stark difference in what he offers compared to Baptista, and honestly, Baptista’s version of what a person like Penelope would act like leaves a stronger impression and even is a bit more jarring on the psyche.
On The Fence
Your Investment In Sofia Might Be Low [74/100]
While we enjoy Samara Weaving as an actress, this was a rather weak role for her. Sofia, even if you want to push her to be the straight man to the madness that Nicholson and Baptista are supposed to bring, she sort of becomes a interchangeable totem. As Sofia, she is less of a person and more of a representative to what people like Paul or Penny want to be with, either in a romantic, friend, or even performance sense. And as the film shows as Devante somehow ends up being seen as Sofia by Paul, it is the name and star power that matters more than the person.
And I’d submit, the same might be true for “Borderline” in terms of Weaving having a recognizable name and star power from previous work, but you not getting a sense of what makes her special with this film – beyond the assumption of what her name could do for the budget and money made back.
Overall
Our Rating (79/100): Mixed (Divisive)
Is “Borderline” entertaining? Yes. However, with Nicholson playing unhinged in a way that is perhaps more elevated due to being reminded of his father’s work, than taking note of what he specifically is doing, there is a sense of nostalgia being more powerful than his performance. Add in the person you should be worried about in Sofia not being someone who you may necessarily care about living or dying, that seems like a problem.
Now, thankfully, Alba Baptista does help push the film to be more than what Weaving and Nicholson provide but as a supporting role, there is only so much she can do and you can get a sense that, with her outshining two actors with far more famous names, rather than utilizing the better performance, it was shrunk. Leaving us with a film that feels slightly divisive, just because it is fun but largely forgettable, beyond Baptista’s moments when she has the spotlight.
Movie Contains
| Dialog | Cursing (Rare) |
| Violence | Gun Violence, Blood, Torture, Notable Fight Scenes |
| Sexual Content | Nothing Notable |
| Miscellaneous | Smoking |
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