Borderlands

The movie was so so. If you didn't catch it in the description this movie is DVD region 2. If you live in the US only get if you have a multi region player

I'm very happy with the movie and my purchase.

The Borderlands depicts the border between the pagan and spiritual realms, the paranormal and the technological, using headcams, CCTV, sound recorders and the pokey atmospherics of a small West Country church, where the natives are not too friendly. The priest himself Father Clerrick has claimed to witness a miracle (caught on video) of candlesticks moving on an altar table. The whole basis of why the film works is that it’s based on the interaction of rounded characters (the paranormal investigators) with each other and their environment, a little off the beaten track. Forget any kind of ‘found footage’ aka The Blair Witch Project. This is a horror-docu-fiction of a special kind. What is especially good is the central two characters, Brother Deacon( Gordon Kennedy), a Scottish Vatican investigator with a drink problem, and English agnostic technician Gray(( Rob Hill), only in it for the money, pitched together in the cottage where they reside, having little debates about the spirit world or pagan beliefs and what constitutes a ‘miracle’. Of course they make sorties into the surrounding countryside, stake out their territories, and go to the pub. Gray states that the things pagans believed in (sun, moon, stars, sea, fire, earth) was physically real and present. Not so the holders of faith who built their churches on heathen ground. We hear about the destructive power of the Catholic Church vis-à-vis pagan worship.Father Mark( Aidan McArdle) , a methodical Irish priest, who holds Deacon in low regard, holding him to blame for the death of 7 priests in Brazil. He is the Realtor General and leader. The investigators fit CCTV cameras in the church and each wears a headcam. Strange things starthappening- weird, rasping, scratchy noises, the creaking of timbers, the crying of a baby. Deacon and Father Mark (not believing Father Crellick) remain sceptical. The film cuts together footage from all these cameras to outstanding effect-shots of empty spaces where nothing happens but might. Surveillance cameras give a steady gaze on the action, together with a strong use of the headcams, allowing eye-to-dialogue and multi-points of view. Father Crellick creeps into the church at night to pray, he also becomes increasingly unhinged, thinking they don’t believe him. He commits suicide. Deacon ventures into the church alone at night and has paranormal experiences. Father Calvino flies in from the Vatican and performs exorcism in the church. There is a scary last 15 minutes through the catacombs underneath the church, during which the borders between minds and environment become fuzzy, intermixed; when fear, superstition, faith and terror are revealed. The natural catacombs narrow into the very contents of the skull. Extraordinary.

I will admit, I went into this film with low expectations. However, it is way better than I expected. I have always thought that there is is something eerie, folkloric and sometimes mind-bending about Britain's prehistoric (i.e. pagan) landscape, and this film kind of taps into that. The Wicker Man went in that direction, and so does this film, although it is in no way comparable to the Wicker Man in terms of plot. Bother Deacon and Grey both become very endearing, and what starts out as a 'haunted church' investigation gradually morphs into something else. But it is the ending that stays with the viewer; it leaves you to come to your own conclusions, but I am fairly clear what is hinted at, and for me personally it was a toe-curling, uncomfortable, thought-provoking finale. I hope the director who made this film produces more British horror films, because he clearly understands how creepy our landscape and history can be.

The Boarderlands. Not strictly a FF film, but pov style which helps and keeps you more interested without giving you a headache. But again the reason it works for me is once again the setting- a remote Catholic Church, it''s full of atmosphere and the unknown. If ever an unknown creepy story is suited to anything it's to the Catholic Church , itself still relatively unknown and full of intrigue to many, add in the mystery of a supernatural horror and for me it's a winning combination.The chemistry between the leads is great too , although the tech guy is incredible annoying thru out, his athiest views (much like myself) really adds to the story, and the fact he is the one thats believing over the religious others is refreshing.With many found footage / pov films I'm left bored to death wishing the time away, but with this I wasn't, it kept me interested thru out and I was on edge expecting something to happen, and being on the lookout, but when it didn't happen I wasn't dissapointed I kept on watching thinking/expecting the same from every scene. It's wasn't daft or gimmicky at all, but a very serious subject done extremely well.So yeah the 'found footage ' film maybe does have some life left in it after all, it's no longer a gimmick but a genre all of its own, which when done well can turn into a really good effort and genuinely unnerving viewing.7/10

This will always be my favorite horror, while some hate found footage it's so well done in this movie, the scares are done well too focusing on creating tention and atmosphere so that when one of the few jumscares are used they work so well and are effective, the story is really interesting too while also asking viewers to remember little things that are important but while also giving you the answers, all together with amazing performances that give all the characters real depth and reallly help you get attached to them and dislike othersDefinitely would recommend to anyone although I will say this as an avid horror fan who owned a few too many horrors, this one haunted me for a week after I viewed it

Well----we must have seen a different version of this film.We found it neither frightening,scary,jumpy or any other description that others have found. As 'maybe' sometime scary,it was ok---but HORROR? We bought this intending to spend a good while watching a decent horror but we found the film just was not---and by the end i am afraid we lost interest but did watch it all. Sorry that we couldn't find as other reviewers----but we really intended to try.

Very slow, dull and boring.....could have been a very good spooky film but instead it was just 2 men in some house that did nothing but talk talk talk...then a 3rd chap joined in and ( yes you guessed it )...talk talk talk !.....Lacked so much in excitement , I thought I'd persevere and let the film run to the end ( even though I was nodding off ) then, low and behold....it started to pick up.........about 5mins. before the end of the film. Definitely a NO NO from me and then let's not forget the " shaky camera job " and torches blinding your eyes while you try to watch the film......very disappointing.....save your money !!!!!