The Fanatic

Name: The Fanatic
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Released: August 30, 2019
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 18
Cast: Ana Golja, Devon Sawa, Jacob Grodnik, James Paxton, Jeff Chase

2019

METASCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Ratings

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4.4

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4.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Ratings

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The Fanatic

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Movie Details & Credits

Quiver Distribution | Release Date: August 30, 2019 | R

Starring: Ana Golja, Devon Sawa, Jacob Grodnik, James Paxton, Jeff Chase, Jessica Uberuaga, John Travolta, Josh Richman, Kenneth Farmer, Luis Da Silva Jr., Marta González Rodin, Martin Peña, Rene Michelle Aranda

Summary: Moose (John Travolta) is a rabid movie fan who is obsessed with his favorite celebrity action hero, Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa). When he is cheated out of his opportunity to finally meet Hunter, Moose gets a little help from his friend Leah, a well-connected paparazzi photographer, who knows how to find celebrity homes. Moose turns toMoose (John Travolta) is a rabid movie fan who is obsessed with his favorite celebrity action hero, Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa). When he is cheated out of his opportunity to finally meet Hunter, Moose gets a little help from his friend Leah, a well-connected paparazzi photographer, who knows how to find celebrity homes. Moose turns to stalking to get the celebrity interaction he feels he deserves, and while harmless at first, Moose's actions begin to take a dark turn as his obsession grows stronger. As the visits continue to escalate, Hunter Dunbar finds himself in increasing danger.… Expand

Director: Fred Durst

Genre(s): Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

Zaki Hasan

Aug 28, 2019

So while The Fanatic isn’t doing anything particularly new, it knows exactly the movie it wants to be. There’s a trashy, pulp energy powering us through the efficient 88-minute run time — long enough to invest us in the stakes, short enough not to wear out its welcome. Read full review

Vince Mancini

Jan 2, 2020

“Fred Durst and John Travolta team up to ineptly recreate Big Fan” is a compelling pitch, perhaps the most compelling pitch, and the movie itself mostly delivers on the kind of train wreck absurdism that it promises. Read full review

John Anderson

Aug 29, 2019

One can understand the draw of The Fanatic for someone like Mr. Travolta: It calls for full immersion, mentally and physically. And he pulls it off. Read full review

The Film Stage Mike Mazzanti

Aug 27, 2019

If you enjoy hooting at corrosive and inept cinema that is neither worthwhile or giddily reprehensible then you might have found a new subject for fanaticism. Read full review

Rex Reed

Aug 29, 2019

It’s a disaster. Read full review

Robert Abele

Aug 27, 2019

A brainless, exploitative folly which gives John Travolta free rein to mine the history of cringe-worthy autism portrayals for an offensively garish Frankenstein pantomime of unhinged obsession. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Aug 28, 2019

Bad in ways that sometimes provoke a disbelieving guffaw, but more often stir pained embarrassment. Read full review

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User Reviews

MrMorphz

May 15, 2020

Dont be fooled by the initial hate this movie is receiving. This is a cult classic!
Travolta gives an explosive performance that isn't always managed well by the film's director Fred Durst, but thats what adds to the charm. This is Tommy Wiseau funny. This is Nicholas Cage crazy. This has toDont be fooled by the initial hate this movie is receiving. This is a cult classic!
Travolta gives an explosive performance that isn't always managed well by the film's director Fred Durst, but thats what adds to the charm. This is Tommy Wiseau funny. This is Nicholas Cage crazy. This has to be seen to be believed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RealmJumper

Apr 8, 2021

This movie is watchable not sure why it has a such a low rating. If anything it's a little short but it's like eating a good piece of key lime pie, it's just the right size, almost. I enjoyed the script but perhaps Moose could of have a richer backstory. Anyway it's watchable and if you wantThis movie is watchable not sure why it has a such a low rating. If anything it's a little short but it's like eating a good piece of key lime pie, it's just the right size, almost. I enjoyed the script but perhaps Moose could of have a richer backstory. Anyway it's watchable and if you want to watch something different then do it and it's John Travolta he's always good.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TheQuietGamer

Oct 5, 2019

I'm a Limp Bizkit fan. I love their loud, brash, and aggressive sound. However, I'm often left perplexed by Fred Durst's lyrics. Sometimes there's a clear message there and others all I can gather is that it's just a bunch word vomit where confusion seems to be the only rational reaction.I'm a Limp Bizkit fan. I love their loud, brash, and aggressive sound. However, I'm often left perplexed by Fred Durst's lyrics. Sometimes there's a clear message there and others all I can gather is that it's just a bunch word vomit where confusion seems to be the only rational reaction. You can probably guess which type The Fanatic more closely resembles...

In this clash between action movie star and obsessed fan it's never clear who you're supposed to be rooting for. "Moose" is a clearly autistic man who just doesn't know any better, but that doesn't make him any less dangerous. "Hunter Dunbar" is world-class jerk who definitely could handled the situation better, but it's hard to fault him for getting aggressive when faced with a stalker that crossed the line. Perhaps we're not supposed to sympathize with either of them in the end. Which would have been acceptable had there been some kind of meaning to all of this, but alas there doesn't appear to be any. So that violent conclusion just ends up leaving a bad taste in your mouth.

It's not even like The Fanatic really does all that much wrong. The humor it tries to mine from Moose's childlike behavior feels out of place and may not sit well with some as it comes at the expense of the mentally ill, but I wouldn't straight garbage or anything like that. It's just that without anything to say for itself the film's most notable qualities end up being John Travolta's all in, yet strangely terrible performance and the fact that it's entirely the brainchild of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Both of which are certainly interesting, but not enough to make the movie worth watching given the considerable lack of substance.

5.5/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

bartcbem

Sep 26, 2019

The movie sure is not great, to be honest its one of those "so bad its good" and oh boy, for the Travolta performance its worth your hour and a half time. The guys acting is insane here, if you consider it good or bad its remarkable!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

bfoore90

Sep 16, 2019

Creeps into "So Bad it's good territory" and may one day overtake The Room as one of the best bad movies ever made. Travolta is so blatantly over-the-top, he's worth the price of admission alone. Everyone needs to see this movie if you enjoy bad movies

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

JLuis_001

Sep 21, 2019

Is this John Travolta finally touching bottom? I mean I wasn't expecting anything from himr nor from Durst but still this sucked big time.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JPK

Dec 18, 2019

Laughably Awful
This film is so f*cking horrendous that it had me in stitches.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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