The Borderlands movie adaptation, currently experiencing a turbulent premiere week, is facing more than just scathing reviews from critics. A recent controversy highlights a lack of credit for key personnel.
A Rocky Premiere for Borderlands
Uncredited Staff Member Speaks Out
Eli Roth's Borderlands movie is struggling to gain traction. Rotten Tomatoes currently shows a dismal 6% rating based on 49 critic reviews. Critics haven't held back, with comments ranging from "wacko BS" requiring an "imagined X button" to escape (Donald Clarke, Irish Times) to qualified praise for design undermined by weak humor (Amy Nicholson, New York Times).
Early social media reactions echoed the negativity, describing the film as "lifeless," "terrible," and "uninspired." However, a positive counter-narrative exists among some fans who appreciate the film's action and over-the-top style. The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a slightly more forgiving 49%. One user stated, "I went in with low expectations, but I truly loved it," citing the explosive action and humor as highlights, though acknowledging potential confusion for those familiar with the game's lore.
Beyond the critical maelstrom, a production controversy has emerged. Freelance rigger Robbie Reid, who worked on the Claptrap character, publicly revealed on Twitter (X) that neither he nor the character modeler received screen credit. Reid expressed his disappointment, noting that this was the first film in his career to omit his credit, particularly concerning given Claptrap's significance. He attributed the omission potentially to him and the artist leaving their studio in 2021, and sadly noted the prevalence of such oversights within the industry. He concluded with a call for industry-wide change in how artists are treated and credited.
