Director Eli Roth seems to think the Borderlands movie sucked too: 'You got something that belonged to nobody'
The budget blew out, and so did the scrutiny of executives.
Eli Roth, the director of the Borderlands movie, expressed disappointment in the film's reception. According to Roth, he doesn't know anyone who enjoys the movie and the same sentiment appears to be echoed across the internet. Despite being the creator of the original Borderlands game series, Roth seems to harbor no affection for the film adaptation.
In a recent interview with Variety, Roth discussed the film's hefty budget of $120 million, which caused concern among non-creative executives in the studio. Roth stated, "As things grow bigger, studios just naturally become more risk averse." The financial constraints prompted the studio to adopt a more conservative approach, which Roth believes compromised the film's potential.
Lionsgate executives demanded changes to ensure the film appealed to a broader audience, resulting in a PG-13 rating. This was particularly perplexing given the source material's violent nature and Roth's own directorial style, which is known for its ultraviolence and gory content.
The result, according to Roth, was a film that failed to please anyone. He described the movie as "something that belonged to nobody," neither suitable for children nor violent enough for hardcore gamers. Critics echoed this sentiment, with PC Gamer's Joshua Wolens calling it "bland tasteless mush that no one involved seemed interested in saving."
Other outlets, from gaming press to mainstream film publications, also panned the film, with IGN even dubbing it "awful." Roth's experience with the project suggests he won't be pursuing a second attempt at adapting a video game into a film anytime soon.
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