Der Fan

I will admit that this movie does drag on some bit but its well worth it for the last 20 minutes.

Its pretty much the same as Autopsy 1999 ending.. but pretty well done and for 1982 its a big surprise.

Der Fan (1982) is a slow-burn psychological thriller that delves into the disturbing nature of obsession. The film follows a teenage fan whose fixation on a pop star gradually turns into something far more sinister. The off-screen narration from the protagonist gives us an eerie insight into a deeply disturbed mind, making the audience feel like silent witnesses to her descent.

For its time, Der Fan was an incredibly bold and provocative film, tackling themes of celebrity worship and psychological instability in a way that still resonates. The final 20 minutes take a shocking and macabre turn, cementing the film's reputation as a cult classic. The soundtrack, composed by Rheingold, is a standout-its electronic beats evoke the hypnotic sound of Kraftwerk, adding to the film's eerie atmosphere.

However, the film's slow pacing might not sit well with modern audiences. Some scenes drag on longer than necessary, making it feel somewhat dated. Still, its psychological depth and haunting final letter to "R" make Der Fan an unforgettable experience for fans of unsettling cinema.

Doleful, onerous portrait of an obsessed fanatic which is entirely encompassing despite its glacial pace. A mildly dissociative schoolgirl grows increasingly entranced by a popular music artist(a very early '80s Kraftwerk-style fellow), and sets forth with determination to become his lover. Through the course of her efforts, she eventually finds herself in his bed...but when she is handed her wham-bam-thank-you papers, her moment of happiness turns to shock and dismay. Things are far from finalized, however, as the closing moments of this film illustrate in a rattling climax which brilliantly rectifies the brooding monotone of its creeping buildup.

A diagnostic rumination on fanaticism which is stylistically rather dated, yet nonetheless quite penetrating and recommendable.

6.5/10.

Der Fan is a practically unknown horror film; but also a very good one and a film that I would call the definition of a 'sleeper'. The film is halfway between a drama and a horror film with drama taking up the first hour before the horror is unleashed in the final third. Eckhart Schmidt's film draws you into the central character with the slow building opening and successfully lulls his audience into a false sense of security before pulling the rug from under us at the end. The result is very effective and ensures that the horror of the story carries a lot of shock value with it. The film focuses on a schoolgirl named Simone. Simone is a quiet girl, and the reason for that is down her obsession with 'R' - a cheesy eighties pop singer. She's written him a letter in which she declares her undying love and constantly watches the post office for a reply; and is constantly disappointed. She can't concentrate on her schooling and decides to hit the road in order to find her love. She eventually meets him in Munich, but doesn't get the treatment she believes she deserves...

The film is German and the version I saw was dubbed poorly into English - and that's really the only bad word I have to say about it. The first hour of the film focuses solely on the main character and her obsession for the pop singer and while I can't say I can relate to it from a personal point of view; the way that things are portrayed makes things interesting. The loneliness of the central character always shines through and even though she's more than just a little bit odd, the director does actually succeed in making us feel bad for her plight. The film is slow for the first hour and not a great deal happens although it really isn't boring and all credit has to go to the film for giving the audience an amazing pay-off towards the end. All the patience invested in the film is surely rewarded when the big twist hits and Eckhart Schmidt delivers a totally bizarre conclusion and brings with it a change of pace that is really difficult to forget. I'm not too surprised that this film isn't often rated more highly as it will undoubtedly struggle to find a target audience; but if you like your horror dark and shocking and have a bit of patience - this little flick is well worth checking out!

First, lets get the fact that the electro soundtrack here is one of the best scores ever. Like EVER! And since this centers on a pop star it's pretty important. There's a repetitive style that works well with the leads repetitive obsession with her letters.

The story and performances are splendid and the ending works just fine for me. It's a story about depression and identity -- deserves a Gen Z following.