The Fan (1982)

For the first hour this is a slow, even stately paced movie, utterly mundane and pretty boring for those who expect action scenes every ten minutes and a twist-a-minute plot. It's a West German production that feels very much like other product from that country (I'm thinking in particular of MOSQUITO THE RAPIST here) in that the characters are cold and the film has a clinically detached feel to it, as if we're scientists watching events play out in a laboratory. There's not a great deal of room for emotion here, but there is a high degree of realism – everything we see is matter-of-fact and everyday stuff, from a teenage girl's pop star obsession to the daily life that goes on around her.Then, at around the hour mark, there is an absolutely massive plot twist and the film suddenly turns into this dark psychological horror yarn that isn't for the squeamish. It's never gory, but the subtle events that play out involving dismemberment and cannibalism are extremely disturbing precisely because they're presented in a mundane, normal way; as if this stuff was expected to happen, and is nothing out of the ordinary. This makes things all the more disturbing. As the young protagonist, Desiree Nosbusch gives an understated performance that works precisely because she hides most of her character's feelings, especially towards the climax of the movie. She's also far from shy, and spends most of the latter half of the film walking around completely naked, which is a little distracting for the viewer.The supporting cast members vary in quality, but I did like Bodo Steiger as the odd, pale pop performer and it's one annoyingly catchy tune he sings. So, in essence, this is a film where exploitation meets subtlety, where depraved horrors are the stuff of normal existence, and it works precisely because of that reason for viewers who are patient enough to sit it out to the end. As such it's a neat precursor to the kind of modern Japanese shockers like AUDITION, where the surprises are saved for the final reel to blow the reader out of their seat at the film's climax. Just remember that TRANCE got there first.

"Der Fan" or "The Fan" is a West German 85--minute movie from 1982, so next year it will have its 35th anniversary. The writer and director is Eckhart Schmidt and it's probably his most known work and also one of the most known works for actress Désirée Nosbusch who plays the title character, that easily turned her into one of Luxembourg's most successful actresses ever and all this at such a tender age. I must say I am not familiar with any of the other actors in here though except Blacky Fuchsberger who has a small cameo. If you read a bit about this film, you will see that it was a controversial film back then, not only because of the contents, but also because of the argument ensuing between Nosbusch and Schmidt around the time when the film came out and that had to do with Nosbusch's nude scenes.And with the controversy dying down over the last few decades, very little stays memorable from this movie. I thought Nosbusch gave a good performance, but I also felt that almost all the supporting players were mediocre or bad on most occasions. This also includes male protagonist Bodo Steiger and I am not surprised at all that he has not acted in more films really. The story also has huge problems in my opinion. For example, it was entirely unfitting that Nosbusch's character suddenly starts cutting off body parts from the man. It feels a bit tough already for me to make an argument for her killing the man, but you can somewhat explain it through spur of the moment and affect. There was no indication at all that she was a sociopath or a violent killer earlier and then they let her do stuff like that. Yes she was misguided, but still. And lets be honest, the way he rejects her is not really severe rejection and it's difficult to justify her screaming and her killing in that scene. It was also cringeworthy how they showed it so many times from different angles. Or how did nobody from the crew tell the police who he went away with. I am not sold at all. As a whole, I can only say that by today's standards, I see this film as a blatant case of style over substance that lacks realism entirely and goes for cheap thrills from start to finish instead of delivering a good character study. The bald head at the very end is the perfect example. I cannot recommend the watch. The few topless shots of the (then already) stunning Désirée Nosbusch are not enough to sit through all the mediocre and weak moments. Watch something else instead.

Slower than a snail in a coma Der Fan tells the tale of an obsessed girl following her pop idol to the point of insanity. I got a good laugh at the fashions of 1982 seeing them all again and our main character dresses (and looks a bit) like Nena of 99 Red Balloons fame. The music within is pretty dire though, even by 1980s standards (believe me, I was there, I know) although some here seem to have enjoyed it. Our heroine eventually meets her idol and it results in a bit of rumpy pumpy, but shortly after she's basically told to get lost and the fun begins.After cracking the pop star Richard Burke (known as "R") over the head with a heavy statue she cuts him up with bread knife and dumps him in a freezer. Finally shaving her head as some process of detachment from it all. I must admit I had to fast forward a bit to get nearer the good stuff in this movie. The first hour is a real drag and pretty much nothing happens. Also during the bread knife scene you can clearly see the pulse in the neck of the "dead" singers body. At one point the tears on the girl look white too, like someone dropped milk on her to fake them. Strange lol. The pay off is OK in the movie, but barely worth the effort of getting through the first hour. Just watch the first 15mins and then fast forward to the studio scenes. You really wont miss anything.

Apparently the favourite film of Japanese cannibal killer Issei Sagawa this unusual German horror drama left me a little bit disturbed.Cute 17-year-old teenager Simone has an intense crush on a dark-haired pop singer "R".The girl believes they are meant to be together,but he doesn't reply on her love letters.As she sees him for the first time she is speechless,unable even to ask for his autograph.He notices her and reaches out to touch her.Overcome with emotion Simone faints;with that first touch R's fate is sealed.When they later make love he is cold and detached.She plans the revenge which erupts into bloody murder and cannibalism..."Trance" is a remarkable horror drama about idol obsession and dysfunctional family living in their own private hell.The climax is gruesome and haunting as Simone kills and dismembers the object of her affection in a fetishistic sequence.The climatic gory mayhem is truly unforgettable.