The Fanatic (2019 film)

The Fanatic is a 2019 American psychological horror-thriller film directed and co-written by Fred Durst. It stars John Travolta as an autistic man obsessed with meeting his favorite actor (Devon Sawa). The film was given a limited theatrical and a VOD release, on August 30, 2019 by Quiver Distribution and Redbox Entertainment, and received mainly negative reviews.

The Fanatic
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFred Durst
Produced by
Screenplay by
Story byFred Durst
Starring
Music by
CinematographyConrad W. Hall
Edited by
  • Malcolm Crowe
  • Nik Voytas
Production
company
  • VMI Worldwide
  • Pretzel Fang Productions
  • Wonderfilm
  • Media Finance Capital
  • Bill Kenwright Films
Distributed by
Release date
  • August 30, 2019 (2019-08-30) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3,153 [1]

Plot

Moose is a man with autism that works as a street performer on Hollywood Boulevard. Moose is also an avid movie fan, especially of the action film actor Hunter Dunbar. When Moose finally gets an opportunity to meet him and get an autograph, he is rejected when Dunbar's ex-wife abruptly comes to see him. Moose is friends with a young paparazzi photographer, Leah, who shows Moose an app that publishes home addresses of famous celebrities, including his hero. Moose goes to Dunbar's house and tries to give him a letter while in pursuit of an autograph. Dunbar confronts Moose and tells him to stay out of his neighborhood. Moose comes back again and climbs a fence, but is scared off by Dunbar's housekeeper. Moose keeps returning and eventually gains entry to the house after accidentally pushing the housekeeper into a stone fountain, killing her. Moose is again rejected by Dunbar, who calls Moose a stalker and threatens to kill Moose if he sees him in the neighborhood again.

Moose returns and ties up Dunbar while he sleeps. When Dunbar awakens he sees Moose lying on the floor, appearing to have killed himself, only for Moose to start laughing and get up. Next, Moose dresses up in a Jason Voorhees mask and pretends to stab Dunbar, but his blade is revealed to be a retractable prop knife, again fooling Dunbar. Dunbar pleads for Moose to untie him with promises of autographs and friendship, and he does. Dunbar attacks and nearly kills Moose, shooting off his fingers with a hidden rifle and stabbing him in the eye. Moose starts to cry hysterically and after a seeming change of heart, Dunbar spares Moose and calmly escorts him out of his home. Moose wanders the streets of Hollywood, sobbing and passing tourists who request to take photos with him, believing his wounds to be a part of a realistic costume, before Leah takes him to the hospital. Just before the movie ends, Dunbar is seen being arrested after police find his deceased housekeeper and find out about the attack on Moose.

Cast

Production

Pretzel Fang produced the film with VMI Worldwide, Wonderfilm Media, Media Finance Capital, Primal Film LLC and Quiver Distribution Inc. funded the film.[2] In March 2018, principal photography began in Birmingham, Alabama.[2][3] Redbox Entertainment also funded the film in exchange for release via the Redbox kiosks and streaming services.[4]

Reception

Box office

The Fanatic earned $3,153 from 52 theaters in the U.S. on its opening day, making it a US box-office failure.[1][5][6]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 16% based on 68 reviews, with an average score of 3.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "John Travolta gives it his oddly coiffed all, but The Fanatic rings hollow as an examination of the way fan appreciation can curdle into toxic obsession."[7] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 18 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[8]

NPR's Simon Abrams gave the film a negative review, calling it a noticeable downgrade from The Education of Charlie Banks and The Longshots, and labeling the work a "miserable psychodrama". Specific elements attracting criticism included the "cliché-filled voiceover narration" and "a bunch of scenes where Travolta zealously overacts".[9] Glenn Kenny of The New York Times also wrote a negative review of the film, arguing that it "delineates the border that separates the merely stale from the genuinely rancid."[10]

In a positive review, Josh Millican of Dread Central called the film "a riveting indie with genuine suspense", and he praised both Travolta's and Sawa's performances.[11]

Accolades

The film was nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards, Worst Picture, Worst Director (Fred Durst), and Worst Actor which John Travolta won (also for his performance in Trading Paint).[12]

References
  1. McClintock, Pamela (August 31, 2019). "Box Office: John Travolta Hits Career Low As 'The Fanatic' Bombs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  2. Harvey, Dennis (August 27, 2019). "Film Review: 'The Fanatic'". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  3. Colurso, Mary (July 24, 2019). "Watch the trailer for 'The Fanatic,' filmed in Alabama and starring John Travolta". al. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  4. Spangler, Todd (February 18, 2020). "Why Redbox Is Moving Into Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Video". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. "FRED DURST's New Movie 'The Fanatic' Is A Spectacular Box Office Bomb". Blabbermouth.net. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  6. Reilly, Nick (September 3, 2019). "John Travolta and Fred Durst's new movie 'The Fanatic' bombs at US box office". NME. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  7. "The Fanatic (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  8. "The Fanatic reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  9. Abrams, Simon (August 29, 2019). "In Stalker Thriller 'The Fanatic,' Travolta Stalks, But Never Thrills". NPR.org. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  10. Kenny, Glenn (August 29, 2019). "'The Fanatic' Review: John Travolta as a Troubled Devotee". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. Millican, Josh (August 26, 2019). "Exclusive: Devon Sawa on The Fanatic". Dread Central. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  12. "RAZZ NEWZ - The Razzies!". razzies.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020.
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