THE FANATIC

US, 2019, 88 minutes, Colour.

John Travolta, Devon Sawa, Anna Golja, Jacob Grodnik, James Paxton.

Directed by Fred Durst.

The fanatic of the title is a film fan.

John Travolta plays Moose, getting older, living alone, obsessed with the star of action films, Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa), his untidy apartment full of memorabilia, his being willing to pay $300 for a vest worn by the star in one of his films. He is anxious to go to a reception where the star will be, eventually meeting him at a book signing but the star moving out before he signs Moose’s jacket. With the help of a friend, he finds the address of the star’s mansion, visits, is thrown out, visits again, entering into the house, stalking, even taking a photo of himself with the sleeping star.

What makes this brief film different is that Moose is autistic. This aspect has made a number of viewers uncomfortable – although there is no problem in watching films like Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman. It is the presentation of the autistic man as the obsessive fan. Yet, a number of autistic people have voted in favour of the film.

Moose has only one friend, Leah, who keeps an eye on him, but who contributes to his stalking by supplying him with a map of stars’ homes.

And, there is quite a dramatic situation when Moose is being evicted by the maid of the house and pushes her and her injuring himself herself, dying. And the irony will be that the star will be arrested for her death after he has fought brutally with Moose, injuring him.

Then the film stops, leaving it to the audience as they see the star arrested and Moose going back, walking along Hollywood Boulevard where, for some money, he busks posing as a London policeman.

1. The title? The film fan? Fanatical attitudes, behaviour, consequences?
2. The Los Angeles setting, Moose and his apartment, cluttered, film memorabilia? Hollywood Boulevard, the buskers and performers and tourists? Souvenir shops? The Hollywood mansions, interiors? The musical score?
3. Issues of fanaticism, issues of mental health, issues of autism?
4. John Travolta and the portrait of Moose, age, experience, memories of childhood, his parents, watching the movies? Older, his appearance, the mullet, busking as a London policeman on Hollywood Boulevard? His obsession with Hunter Dunbar? The shop, buying the jacket, the cost? Connection with Leah, her friendship, advice? The party, talking with the actress, praising her, his being evicted? Hunter Dunbar and the signing, in the queue, Dunbar going to his wife and son, Moose upset?
5. Hunter Dunbar, action actor, the clips from his films? His style, alienation from his wife, arguments? With his son, at the home, talking, care for his son? The gardener? The maid, his kissing her, sorry that he did this? His encounters with Moose, harsh attitudes? Warning him off? The property, on the road?
6. Moose, the buskers on Hollywood Boulevard, Todd, his performance with the nail, his friend, attacking Moose, offering him the job, Moose’s refusal? The security guard urging Moose to defend himself?
7. Moose going to the property, the map, in the garden, the maid urging him away? His return, inside the house, searching, the boy and hiding under the bed? With Dunbar, his sleeping, taking the selfie? In the room with Hunter, tying him up, the conversation, Hunter wheedling, giving the sympathetic promises, loose, attacking Moose, shooting, his eye? Evicting him?
8. Moose, wounded, walking Hollywood Boulevard, the tourist taking a photo with him, Leah seeing him, attending him, urging him to continue?
9. Hunter, the discovery of the dead maid in the garden, the gardener, his arrest?
10. The film suddenly ending? Prospects for Moose? Investigations and trial for Hunter?