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Movie
Poster for The Border

The Border

1982 · 108 min

A grim, slow-burning character study of moral compromise, with a weary Nicholson performance and a dusty, sun-bleached border setting that feels authentically oppressive.

Tagline
When Charlie Smith went down to the border, he found more than a boundary between Texas and Mexico. He found a line within himself.
Overview
A corrupted border agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.

Search YouTube for the trailer

Rent in the UK
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
  • Sky Store
More options Data from JustWatch
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • bleakstrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • corruption
  • morality
  • crime
  • class
  • redemption
Places
  • small town
  • countryside
  • road trip
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
None
Content intensity
  • Gore mild
  • Language strong
  • Violence strong
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action4
Horror2
Humour2
Realism8
Romance2
Tension6
Darkness7
Complexity5
Emotional weight7

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Where to watch in the UK

Rent
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
  • Sky Store
Buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
crime, drama
Directed by
Tony Richardson
Written by
David Freeman, Walon Green, Deric Washburn
Starring
Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Valerie Perrine, Warren Oates, Elpidia Carrillo, Shannon Wilcox, Manuel Viescas, Jeff Morris
Music
Ry Cooder
Cinematography
Ric Waite
Runtime
108 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
English, Spanish

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