The Fan

When this viewer as a teenager first saw Shout Factory's new Blu-ray release back in 1981, I became slightly enamored with actor Michael Biehn. He plays an obsessed stalker in "The Fan" that happens to be enamored with a famous and aging actress. The film got a lot of flack for many reasons at the time, from its supposed glamorization of celebrity stalking to its somewhat infamous man-on-man pick-up scene at a gay bar.

What "The Fan" has become in 2019 is a cinematic curiosity, a film that tried to prove that a Golden Age of Hollywood actress (Lauren Bacall) can still carry an entire film; and that she sure does. Bacall plays Sally Ross, a once-major film star that has turned her attentions to Broadway in order to still make living. She has a loyal secretary (Maureen Stapleton), a Spanish maid (Feiga Martinez), and an ex-husband (James Gardener).

Sally also has numerous adoring fans, but uber-fan Douglas Breen (Michael Biehn) writes of his adoration in many obsessive letters. The recitation of such letters, read aloud by actor Biehn, adds to the detached feeling of the narrative in "The Fan." Breen's constant fan mail is met with rejection by Sally's secretary, which fuels the fire for The Fan to kill those blocking him from getting to his favorite actress.

Bacall commands every scene she's in, even the ones where she embarrassingly sings and dances. Reportedly, the veteran actress was unhappy with the final film version of "The Fan" and deemed it too violent. The slasher aspect of the movie definitely feels wildly out of place at times.

Biehn plays obsession and tortured soul quite well, and the camera adores the young and often shirtless actor in his first major film role.

In "Number One Fan" (one of three new interviews on the Blu-ray), Biehn excitedly recalls the time he got the phone call about winning the role of Douglas Breen. He also doesn't have fond memories of first meeting Lauren Bacall, and talks about the controversy surrounding the "gay man cruising" scene.

Biehn also discusses the fact that many gay male fans tell him that their favorite film role is the one he plays in "The Fan."

"The Fan"
Blu-ray
$29.99
www.shoutfactory.com