Watch The Borderlands

The Borderlands is a British found footage horror film released in 2013. The movie follows a team of Vatican investigators sent to a rural church in the English countryside to verify the authenticity of reported supernatural events occurring on the premises. The team consists of Deacon (Gordon Kennedy), a skeptical and grizzled veteran investigator, and Mark (Robin Hill), a tech-savvy young newcomer. They are joined by Father Crellick (Aidan McArdle), a local priest who has requested the investigation after witnessing strange occurrences in the church. The trio sets up cameras throughout the church to document any activity, and clashes immediately arise between the cautious Deacon and the eager Mark.

The Borderlands follows the conventions of found footage horror by using shaky cam footage filmed by the characters, adding tension to the scenes. As the investigation progresses, the team begins to uncover strange occurrences and unexplainable phenomena within the church, leading them to question their own beliefs and fears.

The movie is mostly set within the church, which creates a claustrophobic atmosphere and heightens the tension. The Borderlands builds suspense gradually, relying on its troubling ambiance and a slow drip of unsettling occurrences, rather than cheap jump scares.

The Borderlands also delves into themes of faith and religion, specifically challenging traditional Catholicism beliefs. As the investigation progresses and the team become exposed to increasingly disturbing events, their views on Catholicism become increasingly strained, resulting in a clash between them.

The performances by the cast, particularly Kennedy and Hill's, are strong and add believable depth to their character's relationship. There are also several scares that are well-executed, with the movie benefiting from not relying on typical horror movie cliches.

The Borderlands was praised by critics for its fresh approach to the found footage horror subgenre and has earned a reputation as a cult classic. It benefits from an intelligent script, a strong cast, and a restrained directorial style that emphasizes tension over shock value.

Overall, The Borderlands is a successfully creepy horror movie with an intriguing spin on the found footage format, offering viewers plenty of scares and food for thought regarding faith and religion.