FANATIC, THE
(director/writer: Fred Durst; screenwriter: story by Durst and Dave Bekerman; cinematographer: Conrad W. Hall; editor: Malcolm Crowe, Nik Voytas; music: John Swihart, Blvck Ceiling, Gary Hickeson; cast: Devon Sawa (Hunter Dunbar), John Travolta (Moose), Ana Golja (Leah), Jacob Grodnik (Todd), Josh Richman (Aaron), Jessica Uberuaga (Brenda), James Paxton (Slim), Marta Gonzalez Rodin (Dora), Kenneth Farmer (Dick), Jeff Chase (Security Guard), Luis Da Silva Jr. (Luis), Rene Michelle Aranda (Tourist), Dominic Salvatore (Danny); Runtime: 88; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Oscar Generale, Daniel Grodnik; Quiver Distribution; 2019)
“It’s a bad film that for success relies on the creepy performance by John Travolta.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An unsettling low-budget absurd thriller about a grisly stalker, played by John Travolta as a mentally disturbed fan (suffering from autistic issues) who knows no boundaries chasing after Hollywood actors for autographs. The dramedy sadly reminds one of the far superior fandom flick where De Niro in “The King of Comedy” played the Travolta part, in a film that was directed with great skill by Scorsese.
The Fanatic is directed and written by the former Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst (“The Longshots”/”The Education of Charlie Banks”) from a story by him (inspired by true events that happened to him with a stalker) and Dave Bekerman. It’s a bad film that for success relies on the creepy performance by John Travolta.
The has-been B-film action hero Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa) is obsessed over by the compulsive LA residing loser movie fanatic autograph hound, Moose (John Travolta). When unable to get an autograph from Hunter, a Hollywood photographer friend, his only friend, Leah (Ana Golja), shows him where Hunter lives and Moose begins stalking him while sporting a bad haircut and a too small bike helmet while in pursuit on his scooter. He stalks him to a point where Hunter can’t take it anymore and threatens him, as things turn violent.
At Night, the loner movie fan is a busker on Hollywood Boulevard, costumed as a British bobby, who works to support his movie memorabilia collection habit through his meager income.
For such fans (those out there who hound celebrities), this is a cringe-worthy look at them as pathological parasites.
Unfortunately the jejune film lacks any psychological insights into crazed fandom or show any characters you can relate to as deserving of our sympathy.
REVIEWED ON 8/26/2023 GRADE: C+