Borderlands Movie's Poor Reviews Aren't Its Only Problems

The Borderlands movie has hit a rough patch during its premiere week, facing not only harsh criticism from top reviewers but also internal controversy over credits.

Borderlands Movie Faces Rocky Premiere Week

Film Staff Says He Wasn't Credited

Directed by Eli Roth, the Borderlands movie has encountered significant backlash as it premieres. On Rotten Tomatoes, a leading platform for film reviews, the movie has garnered a dismal 6% rating from 49 critics. High-profile critics have been particularly scathing. Donald Clarke of the Irish Times suggested that viewers might feel the urge to "hammer an imagined X button" to escape the film's "wacko BS," while Amy Nicholson from the New York Times acknowledged some commendable design elements but found the humor lacking.

Following the lifting of the social media embargo earlier this week, early viewers and critics echoed these sentiments, describing the movie as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." Despite the critical panning, a portion of the Borderlands fanbase and general audience have shown a more positive response, with the film achieving a 49% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer admitted, "Not gonna lie, I was a hater when I saw the cast. I went into it with low expectations, but I truly loved it." Another fan appreciated the film's explosive action and crude humor but pointed out that "some of the lore changes could leave people puzzled. Personally, I didn't mind too much as it made for a more compelling storyline for the film."

However, the Borderlands movie's woes extend beyond poor reviews. A recent controversy has emerged involving Robbie Reid, a freelance rigger who contributed to the character "Claptrap." Reid took to Twitter (X) to express his dismay at not receiving a credit for his work, alongside the artist who modeled the character.

"Up until this point, I've been exceptionally lucky to have received a credit for every film I've worked on," Reid stated. He expressed his disappointment, noting, "It just stings that the one to finally break the streak was the last film I worked on at a studio. And for such a significant character too." Reid speculated that the lack of credits might be due to their departure from the studio in 2021 and highlighted that such oversights are unfortunately common in the industry.

"My disappointment lies with the general industry and how it treats/credits artists. It's a long on-going problem, and I'm sad to see it's still widespread based on replies. But I'm heartened by the support shown, and I hope it can lead to change for our industry," Reid concluded.