The Fan backdrop
The Fan logo
1981·Drama·1h 35m
7.0
A record store clerk is an obsessed fan of an actress of stage and screen. However, when faced with rejection, the fan strikes out in increasingly violent ways.
Directed by Ed Bianchi
obsession
stalker
obsessed fan
fan mail

Cast

Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall
Sally Ross
James Garner
James Garner
Jake Berman
Maureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton
Belle Goldman
Héctor Elizondo
Héctor Elizondo
Police Inspector Raphael Andrews
Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn
Douglas Breen
Anna Maria Horsford
Anna Maria Horsford
Emily Stolz
Kaiulani Lee
Kaiulani Lee
Douglas' Sister
Dwight Schultz
Dwight Schultz
Director
Dana Delany
Dana Delany
Saleswoman in Record Store
Terence Marinan
Terence Marinan
Young Man in Bar
Robert Weil
Robert Weil
Pop
Griffin Dunne
Griffin Dunne
Production Assistant

Crew

Ed Bianchi
Ed Bianchi
Director
Pino Donaggio
Pino Donaggio
Original Music Composer
Alan Heim
Alan Heim
Editor
Dick Bush
Dick Bush
Director of Photography
Kevin McCormick
Kevin McCormick
Executive Producer
John Nicolella
John Nicolella
Associate Producer
Dick Smith
Dick Smith
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Santo Loquasto
Santo Loquasto
Production Design
Jeffrey Kurland
Jeffrey Kurland
Costume Design
Dan Perri
Dan Perri
Title Designer

Popular Reviews

24 reviews
brunettegsundae
brunettegsundae
The Fan
I don’t really have words to describe how gorgeously classic Lauren Bacall is in this movie
I love how she tried to hide her fear around Douglas. Even when she was scared, she was sarcastic. Diva
I don’t really have words to describe how gorgeously classic Lauren Bacall is in this movie
I love how she tried to hide her fear around Douglas. Even when she was scared, she was sarcastic. Diva
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Somto Umelo
Somto Umelo
The Fan
I can fix him (no really I can)

The way Sally kept clocking his shit during the third act.

And that pool sequence remains goated.
I can fix him (no really I can)

The way Sally kept clocking his shit during the third act.

And that pool sequence remains goated.
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Kiki
Kiki
The Fan
im actually fan of her (fr)
im actually fan of her (fr)
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Somto Umelo
Somto Umelo
The Fan
"I love you. Please love me."

OH THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!!!

Edward Bianchi's The Fan is very akin to The Last horror Film as they both follow a young man who obsesses over a famous actress. I adored Last Horror Film, but I found this one so much better because of how realistic it all is.

THE PERFORMANCES

Michael Biehn and Lauren Bacall (loved her in How To Marry A Millionaire) give amazing performances. I especially Biehn's take on the obsessive psycho archetype. You really get to see Douglas's mental health degrade more than it already has as the film progresses, especially through the tone of his letters. His face acting/subtle acting is really good and the spurts of uncontrolled emotion are genuinely creepy. Lauren Bacall dazzles as Sally, I was really starstruck by her performance. It was really naturalistic and it was nice seeing a golden age actress in a horror film.

FAVOURITE SCENES

There's some really great scenes/set-pieces in this film. The swimming pool kill for example was my favourite kill. The whole set-piece was so cinematic, especially when Douglas gets in the pool. It's one of those kill sequences where I'm like, "you know what, I wouldn't mind going out like this." Like yes, I want to be the hot guy who gets slashed in the pool. My number one favourite sequence in the whole film would have to be Sally's entire musical performance. The aesthetic was so glamorous. And the choreography was fire and the costumes were so dazzling. The whole thing reminded me of the film Burlesque. Lauren Bacall's singing near the end really touched my heart, and Douglas's quiet outburst was the perfect gut-punch. Such a great sequence, honestly.

THE KILLS

I love how realistic the kills are. They really fit the tone of the film. Some people complain that they weren’t bloody enough, but I prefer it that way. I, of course, am a huge fan of gore fests and splatter and I understand why people would want to see that in this film (because it would be fun), but that wouldn't have worked for a more psychological film like this one. The realism of the kills really immerse me further into the film and actually makes the film more creepy. There's no excessive gore to add any "fun" to the kills.

CLOSING

I was really bummed to find out how dismissed this film was at the time of its release, being a failure both critically and commercially. I do think it needs a critical re-evaluation because this is a great piece on obsession and schizophrenic behaviour patterns. It really stands out amongst its contemporary peers, even though it was overshadowed by them. You can tell a lot of thought and creativity went into the storytelling, direction and acting.

It really is a perfect film.
"I love you. Please love me."

OH THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!!!

Edward Bianchi's The Fan is very akin to The Last horror Film as they both follow a young man who obsesses over a famous actress. I adored Last Horror Film, but I found this one so much better because of how realistic it all is.

THE PERFORMANCES

Michael Biehn and Lauren Bacall (loved her in How To Marry A Millionaire) give amazing performances. I especially Biehn's take on the obsessive psycho archetype. You really get to see Douglas's mental health degrade more than it already has as the film progresses, especially through the tone of his letters. His face acting/subtle acting is really good and the spurts of uncontrolled emotion are genuinely creepy. Lauren Bacall dazzles as Sally, I was really starstruck by her performance. It was really naturalistic and it was nice seeing a golden age actress in a horror film.

FAVOURITE SCENES

There's some really great scenes/set-pieces in this film. The swimming pool kill for example was my favourite kill. The whole set-piece was so cinematic, especially when Douglas gets in the pool. It's one of those kill sequences where I'm like, "you know what, I wouldn't mind going out like this." Like yes, I want to be the hot guy who gets slashed in the pool. My number one favourite sequence in the whole film would have to be Sally's entire musical performance. The aesthetic was so glamorous. And the choreography was fire and the costumes were so dazzling. The whole thing reminded me of the film Burlesque. Lauren Bacall's singing near the end really touched my heart, and Douglas's quiet outburst was the perfect gut-punch. Such a great sequence, honestly.

THE KILLS

I love how realistic the kills are. They really fit the tone of the film. Some people complain that they weren’t bloody enough, but I prefer it that way. I, of course, am a huge fan of gore fests and splatter and I understand why people would want to see that in this film (because it would be fun), but that wouldn't have worked for a more psychological film like this one. The realism of the kills really immerse me further into the film and actually makes the film more creepy. There's no excessive gore to add any "fun" to the kills.

CLOSING

I was really bummed to find out how dismissed this film was at the time of its release, being a failure both critically and commercially. I do think it needs a critical re-evaluation because this is a great piece on obsession and schizophrenic behaviour patterns. It really stands out amongst its contemporary peers, even though it was overshadowed by them. You can tell a lot of thought and creativity went into the storytelling, direction and acting.

It really is a perfect film.
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Comment
angie
angie
The Fan
lauren bacall qui reste une baddie même avec un couteau sous la gorge
lauren bacall qui reste une baddie même avec un couteau sous la gorge
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