It Sounds Like Borderlands Was ‘Blowing People’s Heads Off’ With The OG Cut. So What Happened To The R-Rated Version?

It Sounds Like Borderlands Was 'Blowing People's Heads Off' With The OG Cut. So What Happened To The R-Rated Version?

As a longtime fan of the Borderlands series and someone who eagerly anticipated this adaptation, I must say, watching the movie felt like being handed a watered-down version of my favorite video game after a long wait. The theatrical cut seemed to lack the over-the-top, hyper-violent sequences that made the games so enticing, leaving me with a sense of disappointment.


In the review by TopMob for Borderlands, the film is labeled as a “complete chaos” and many critics share this viewpoint. Interestingly, during its debut weekend, it ranked fourth at the box office, while Deadpool & Wolverine continued their reign at No. 1 for the third consecutive week. Despite being hyped as an upcoming movie based on a video game, it seems that the audience had low expectations too. This might be because the audience possibly expected an excessively violent and outrageous film, and it appears they could have gotten exactly that.

In the film adaptation of Borderlands, producers initially aimed for an R-rating, as indicated by the on-set use of gruesome scenes such as exploding heads and detached limbs during filming. However, the final cut was rated PG-13, surprising and disappointing some fans who anticipated a more faithful representation of the game’s hyper-violent sequences. Jimmy O’Dee, the stunt coordinator, revealed this information in an interview with ScreenRant.

In our film production, we were making a movie with an adult rating. From the beginning, we intended to either receive a 15 or R rating, depending on the region; it’s 15 in the UK for a slightly older audience. Consequently, we depicted violent scenes such as decapitations and amputations. However, things can change during production. We filmed this almost three years ago, or we’ve just completed it. Therefore, a lot may happen during post-production, and they decide where the film is headed and what audience it targets. Initially, our goal was to create a chaotic, graphic scene involving decapitations and amputations, which would then be refined in post-production.

As a longtime fan of Eli Roth’s horror films, I was eagerly anticipating his take on the world of Borderlands when it was announced that he would be directing the movie. With a reputation for delivering bone-chilling horror, I had high hopes that Roth would bring his unique sensibilities to the vibrant and mysterious planet of Pandora.

Without a doubt, Eli has a passion for horror. In fact, he couldn’t hide his enthusiasm when discussing it. On one occasion, he was part of the secondary filming crew, and upon arrival, he jokingly suggested, “Maybe just sever the ankles? Yes, grab the knife and chop off the ankles, leaving some stubs behind.” Sometimes, he found the level of gore insufficient for his taste. However, Eli thrived on such gruesome elements. It was a pleasure working with him, and the entire experience was incredibly enjoyable.

As a longtime fan of horror films and someone who has been following Eli Roth’s career for quite some time, I find myself pondering over the question: Why didn’t we get a violent and gory “Borderlands” movie from Eli Roth? Given his penchant for creating visually gruesome and intensely disturbing cinematic experiences, it seems odd that such a project never came to fruition.

Is there a version of this movie rated R somewhere? Given the timeline, it’s plausible that a fully graphic edition of the film might have been finished. Alternatively, it’s conceivable that the R-rated version was never completed during post-production, leaving us with an incomplete project.

As a lifelong fan of the Borderlands video game series, I can’t help but ponder over the potential impact an R-rated adaptation could have had on the beloved franchise. Having played through countless hours of blood-splattering, profanity-laced adventures in the colorful world of Pandora, I find myself intrigued by the idea that a more mature, uncensored version of the story might resonate even more deeply with fans like me.

The much-anticipated film, titled Borderlands, has finally hit the big screens as one of the major releases scheduled for 2024.

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2024-08-13 04:37