Vague Visages’ Borderline review contains minor spoilers. Jimmy Warden’s 2025 movie on Amazon features Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson and Eric Dane. Check out the VV home page for more film criticism, movie reviews and film essays.

Jimmy Warden — the screenwriter of The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) and Cocaine Bear (2023) — isn’t known for his traditional Hollywood style. And so it’s not a surprise that his feature directorial debut, Borderline, is bonkers AF. The psychological thriller stars Warden’s talented wife, Samara Weaving (2019’s Ready or Not), as an A-list celebrity named Sofia, living in 1990s Los Angeles, who gets stalked by a mentally deranged fan, Paul Duerson (Ray Nicholson, 2025’s Novocaine). Overall, the film’s comedic vibe matches that of an attention-seeking actor or actress who talks non-stop and attempts to make each and every statement interesting and/or entertaining, even if they’re just stating obvious facts. (Note: I lived off Hollywood Boulevard from 2006 to 2012, so I have some experience with these type of L.A. folks). Annoying as Borderline may be at times, everything oddly comes together through unorthodox twists, killer needle-drops, legitimately hilarious gags and a standout duet featuring Weaving and co-star Alba Baptista (Netflix’s Warrior Nun). Borderline is A LOT but doesn’t require a lot of deep thinking.

Warden announces his intentions during Borderline’s opening sequence: the film’s villain, Paul, appears in a wedding ceremony alongside the protagonist Sofia, and then narrates to the audience about films that show the ending first. The suggestion? Don’t believe everything you see, and don’t take anything too seriously. Warden then jumps back in time as Paul arrives at Sofia’s home and stabs a security guard (Eric Dane as Bell) after mistaking him for his object of affection. Six months later, the villain escapes from a psychiatric facility with his “personal assistant,” Penny (the aforementioned Baptista, also playing a mentally deranged killer), and they subsequently hatch a plan to invade the protagonist’s mansion with the assistance of a large man named J.H. (Patrick Cox). Meanwhile, Bell resumes his security job while looking after his daughter, Abby (Yasmeen Kelders), and Sofia hangs out with her boyfriend, Rhodes (Jimmie Fails) — an NBA basketball player who was recently traded from the Portland Trailblazers to the Denver Nuggets. Warning: Borderline’s first half is so over-the-top with campy theatrics that some viewers will probably check out early (both Nicholson and Baptista must’ve been directed to smile like lunatics constantly from scene to scene). But don’t be fooled by the American Psycho-like mimicry, as there’s plenty of substance to be found during the final 45 minutes.

Borderline Review: Related — Review: Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford’s ‘The Last Video Store’

Borderline peaks when Warden lets his side players cook. For example, there’s a charismatic police officer (Matthew Del Bel Belluz) who rehearses a musical dance number on the job before getting dispatched by J.H. And as far as the “borderline” premise — which presumably refers to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) — Baptista arguably neutralizes Nicholson’s lead performance by simply doing more than just smiling like a maniac, whether it’s killing while wearing a cowboy hat or performing a cover of the 1996 Celine Dion single “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” If Weaving plays it somewhat safe as a curious yet frightened celebrity in Borderline, and Nicholson holds down the fort by staying true to an American Psycho-style performance, then Baptista takes the cake by effectively portraying a character that heavily contrasts with her sweet demeanor. In each scene, the actress revels in Penny’s excitement and spontaneous behavior, allowing the audience to experience the film in a similar way. Baptista is already a major star in her native Portugal (she’s also married to American actor Chris Evans), and will hopefully transform into an A-list international celebrity within the next five years.

Borderline Review: Related — Review: The Adams Family’s ‘Where the Devil Roams’

Cinematographer Michael Alden Lloyd (Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie) adds some visual flair to Borderline via numerous overhead shots, almost like a voyeur observing the crazy antics of Paul, J.H. and Penny. In addition, the overall character dialogue is full of sneaky one-liners. And while Borderline isn’t necessarily a film that prioritizes character backstories, there’s enough detail to set up a final act twist that most viewers won’t anticipate. Just like a Hollywood actor or actress who doesn’t quite know when to stop performing amongst family members and friends, Borderline is frequently annoying yet always entertaining and unpredictable.

Borderline released digitally on September 8, 2025.

Borderline Review: Related — Review: Kyle Mooney’s ‘Y2K’

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor. Thank you for reading film criticism, movie reviews and film essays at Vague Visages.