Eli Roth’s Borderlands movie is almost here, and the first impressions are coming in – and, well, they are not GreatCritics have taken to social media to brand the live-action adaptation of Gearbox’s looter shooter a “huge flop” and a “disaster.”

The Borderlands movie has, of course, been in the works for some time. It was first announced in 2015 before disappearing completely in a long, drawn-out silence. Then, just when it seemed like the project was dead and buried, Gearbox announced it again in February 2020, this time with Hostel director Eli Roth at the helm.

Since then, big-name stars like Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gina Gershiwn, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black (rather mysteriously) have signed on to the project, giving fans at least some hope that it won’t be all that bad. Unfortunately, recent trailers haven’t inspired much additional confidence.

And now, after press screenings and the lifting of the social media embargo, critics are starting to weigh in. “Borderlands is a disaster,” said Bitesize Breakdown writer Adriano Caporusso. “This film is packed with every cliche imaginable, trading the chaos and fantasy of the games for a lifeless, unfunny, and visually repulsive flop with annoying characters and a cast without an ounce of chemistry.”

Granted, “lifeless, unfunny… with annoying characters” sounds pretty much like Gearbox’s post-Borderlands 2 series, but probably not what you’d expect from a movie. “It’s really bad,” Awesome Friday critic Matthew Simpson wrote on social media. “I really wanted to like it, but an uninspired plot + several lame performances + being stuck in a weird place where it looks expensive and cheap at the same time make it a huge letdown.” He did, however, have good things to say about Jack Black’s performance, calling it “great.”

Darren Movie Reviews was similarly positive about the rest of the film’s cast, calling the stars “great” as well – despite a “rushed and boring script,” “underdeveloped” characters, and “flat” jokes. “Not bad,” it concluded, “but completely forgettable.”

And of course, it goes further. Edgar Ortega, author of Loud and Clear Reviews, compared Borderlands to a film “that an unworldly executive thinks will appeal to the ‘cool kids.'” He criticized the “obnoxious lines that feel dated as soon as they come out of the actors’ mouths,” before declaring, “It’s not even so bad that it’s good, just a complete mess.”

Freelance critic Sean Patrick Kelly praised the film for “the extraordinary level of detail for anyone who has played the video games,” but then added, “I don’t know if that’s enough to stop people from calling it a Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off.”

In-depth reviews from major publications will likely appear over the next few days, but if you’re willing to give it a chance regardless of what the critics think, the Borderlands movie hits theaters this Friday, August 9th.