The Borg at their terrifying best
One reason why First Contact still crackles is that it finally gives the Borg the cinematic treatment they deserve. Years after Captain Picard's traumatic assimilation in the TNG two-part episode "The Best of Both Worlds," the film wastes no time.
A Borg cube speeds toward Earth, battles a fleet of Starfleet ships, only to slingshot a smaller sphere back through time in an effort to rewrite history and assimilate humanity while it's still reeling from World War III.
That premise enables the Borg to operate on multiple levels as both relentless action-movie villains and as a persistent embodiment of Picard’s PTSD. The increasing hive presence on the Enterprise, including the chilling appearance of the Borg Queen, is almost done like a horror movie. It gives the film an edge and intensity that is still unique in the franchise.
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