DER FAN is a slow-building but effective film that touches on common themes of obsession and rejection, but in a slightly more clinical and disturbing manner than most films of it's type. The "resolution" is also a bit more bizarre than your average film about unrequited love, but should prove satisfying to fans of more "dark"-themed horror films.
Simone is your typical disaffected and alienated teenager who has a delusional obsession with a popular music star, known as "R". Through R's droney and monotonous new-wave style music, Simone believes that the two are "connected" and writes him unreturned love-letters on a daily basis. Simone finally decides to run away from home to pursue her "love", and eventually meets R oustide of a television station. Unlikely as it may seem, R takes a personal interest in Simone and the pair spend the night together. But when R treats Simone as a typical groupie, Simone in not happy about it and retaliates in a most extreme fashion...
To be honest, the basic plot of DER FAN is nothing very original, it's how the material is handled and portrayed that makes this film interesting. There is a coldness to the production that is reminiscent of some of Michael Haneke's works and the "shocking" ending is both deranged and satisfying. The mechanical new-wave soundtrack fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the film, and mirrors feeling of Simone's alienation and despair. My only gripes with the film are the ATROCIOUS dubbing of my copy - I would have much preferred a subtitle track. The pacing was also definitely a bit slow until the final act of the film, but I didn't find it to be overly dull. I'm also disappointed that my copy of the film appears to be the shorter, 88 minute version, and there does appear to be a few awkward edits in the sex-scene, and in the finale. I would really like to know what I missed in those two parts. Other than those issues, DER FAN is a very solid and overlooked film that I would recommend to "dark" horror/drama fans that can stand to wait for the pay-off...8.5/10
Simone is your typical disaffected and alienated teenager who has a delusional obsession with a popular music star, known as "R". Through R's droney and monotonous new-wave style music, Simone believes that the two are "connected" and writes him unreturned love-letters on a daily basis. Simone finally decides to run away from home to pursue her "love", and eventually meets R oustide of a television station. Unlikely as it may seem, R takes a personal interest in Simone and the pair spend the night together. But when R treats Simone as a typical groupie, Simone in not happy about it and retaliates in a most extreme fashion...
To be honest, the basic plot of DER FAN is nothing very original, it's how the material is handled and portrayed that makes this film interesting. There is a coldness to the production that is reminiscent of some of Michael Haneke's works and the "shocking" ending is both deranged and satisfying. The mechanical new-wave soundtrack fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the film, and mirrors feeling of Simone's alienation and despair. My only gripes with the film are the ATROCIOUS dubbing of my copy - I would have much preferred a subtitle track. The pacing was also definitely a bit slow until the final act of the film, but I didn't find it to be overly dull. I'm also disappointed that my copy of the film appears to be the shorter, 88 minute version, and there does appear to be a few awkward edits in the sex-scene, and in the finale. I would really like to know what I missed in those two parts. Other than those issues, DER FAN is a very solid and overlooked film that I would recommend to "dark" horror/drama fans that can stand to wait for the pay-off...8.5/10