Borderland (2007)

Director:

Zev Berman

Writers (WGA):

Eric Poppen (written by) &
Zev Berman (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror

Plot:

On a trip to a Mexican border town, three college friends stumble upon a human-sacrifice cult.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Knife Wound | Prayer | Stabbed In The Back | Strip Club

Cast

Brian Presley	...	Ed
Rider Strong	...	Phil
Jake Muxworthy	...	Henry
Beto Cuevas	...	Santillan
Martha Higareda	...	Valeria
Sean Astin	...	Randall
Damián Alcázar	...	Ulises
Marco Bacuzzi	...	Gustavo
Roberto Sosa	...	Luis
José María Yazpik	...	Zoilo
Humberto Busto	...	Mario
Elizabeth Cervantes	...	Anna
Francesca Guillén	...	Lupe
Alenka Rios	...	Amelia
Tomas Goros	...	Captain Ramirez

MPAA:

Rated R for strong grisly violence/torture, drug use, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

105 min (unrated version)

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ensenada, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company:

Tonic Films

Movie Connections:

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Soundtrack:

Duele

Travelings across the Borderland

Based on the Matamoros Cult Killings, this film finds three friends traveling to Mexico for a little wine, women & song. When one of them, Phil (Boy Meet World's Rider Strong) gets kidnapped, it's up to the other two along with help from a few local girls ad a Mexican cop who had lost his partner to the cult to find a way to save him. But time is fleeting as the dark gods demand a sacrifice.

This has been compared to Eli Roth's "Hostel" and I can see some validity there, albeit small, as both films are quite graphic, but whereas Eli throws up gore just for the sake of gore, the extreme violence in this film is actually integral to the story at hand. Zev Berman has crafted a cautionary tale about human cruelty and the monsters that lie within. The film's a little slow going to introduce the trio of friends but that methodical to give them as much personalty as Zev could. It gets quite intense toward the end. While I can't really say I enjoyed the film, I ca say I respected it.

My Grade: B

DVD Extras: Commentary with Director Zev Berman, Actor Brian Presley, Director of Photography Scott Kevan, and Producer Lauren Moews; 2 featurettes (Rituals de Sangre, & Inside Zev's Head) the former being the real life account while the latter is a video diary; Miss Horrorfest Contest Webisodes; Trailers for "the Eye" remake, "Wristcutters: a love story"; and Promos for Fear.net, Horrorfest 2007, & After Dark: 8 Films to Die for