The Border – 1982

• 2021/11/14

Look for a ranking of Jack Nicholson’s performances and all the usual suspects pop up. It’s a strong body of work to plough through, and nestled toward the top of his second-tier output is this criminally under-appreciated thriller. As relevant today as it was upon release, this gnarly sunbaked tale follows Nicholson as a recent transfer to a Texan border town, where some morally dubious shenanigans are afoot. What sets this a cut above the rest is the brutally honest treatment of a situation with no clear winners, and where moral integrity has a heavy cost. Ole Jack is perfect in this, even though the tacked on modified ending prevents this from becoming one of his top 3 films. It might be from 1982 but has that gritty 70s vibe, enhanced by some truly creative and unflinching kills. Check it out!