Rating: 
Summary: Nothing to write home about
Review: "The Fan" fits into a category reserved for films such as "The Sentinel," "Ghost Story," "Burnt Offerings," and any other big budget studio film that tried to cash in on the exploding popularity of the horror genre in the 1970s and early 1980s. Loaded with big name stars and stylish set pieces, these movies largely failed to earn critical or audience praise because they couldn't compete with the down and dirty gorefests like "Friday the 13th" let alone other slasher, demon possession, or ghost flicks. A precious few--"The Exorcist" and "The Omen" come immediately to mind--did succeed at the box office and went on to attain wider pop culture status. Sadly, "The Fan" is not one of these films. No one raves about a horror movie starring Lauren Becall and James Garner. No one, except for "Terminator" enthusiasts, seems to know that Michael Biehn co-starred in "The Fan" three years before "The Terminator" opened to everlasting cult status. In a way, obscurity is perhaps the best place for "The Fan." But in other aspects, it's a shame this film hasn't received greater attention from horror aficionados. Surprisingly, the movie does have a few interesting things going for it.
"The Fan" tells us the story of aging actress and all around screen siren Sally Ross (Lauren Becall). Although her best days seem far behind her, she still manages to draw a crowd from time to time. Sometimes a fan even steals her pens! Oh, the trials and travails of celebrity! She also must keep a secretary, in this case the mouthy Belle Goldman (Maureen Stapleton), on the payroll to answer fan mail. Then there's Jake Berman (James Garner), Sally's ex-husband and a noted film director, to deal with as well. Ross still keeps a flame burning for her former beau, going so far as to occasionally call him and leave long messages on his answering machine. Berman seems to recognize that he and Sally had something special too, and whenever he pops in for a visit the two banter back and forth like cranky little lovers. Fans, Goldman, and Berman form the backdrop to Sally's latest venture, a stage production in which the actress must sing and dance in front of a live audience for the first time in her career. It's going to be a real challenge for this grand old dame, but she's a real trooper who doesn't mind putting in time training to be a hoofer. Alas, circumstances beyond Sally Ross's control will soon threaten those she loves as well as her budding career as a song and dance diva.
Enter Douglas Breen (Michael Biehn), a young man with an unhealthy interest in everything Sally Ross. He spends most of his time tapping out lengthy letters to her on a decrepit typewriter in his dingy apartment, letters full of fawning adoration for her talent and looks. Predictably, Belle Goldman intercepts these letters and fires off a standard pre-printed response. Breen, offended that Sally doesn't share his feelings, begins sending letters seething with threats. Ross is too caught up in her feelings for Berman and the rehearsals for the stage show to know anything about Douglas Breen, but Belle Goldman recognizes a nut when she sees one and tries to get Sally's attention. Nothing happens until Breen makes a move, viciously attacking Belle in the subway one evening as she heads home from Sally's apartment. Finally, Ross pays attention. She begins consulting with a concerned cop, Inspector Andrews (Hector Elizondo), but the attacks continue. A young man Sally dates falls prey to Breen's razorblade in a public swimming pool, and she arrives home one day to find her apartment ransacked. Breen appears unstoppable and invisible, yet his apparent death seemed to put a stop to the reign of terror before it reached its bloody apogee. But is Douglas Breen truly dead? And is Sally Ross safe?
"The Fan" is a failure for a number of reasons. First, it's boring for a slasher film. Nothing much happens for most of the film, and even the conclusion left me wanting more. Second, while it's always enjoyable to see Lauren Becall on the big screen, this film is beneath her talents. Most people seem to find her song and dance routine hilarious, but I actually sort of liked it. I'm not saying it isn't cheesy--it is the early 1980s, after all--but her performance on stage at the end of the film is probably the most interesting thing in the film. Third, and finally, I can't stand how this film wasted James Garner. I'm a big fan of this actor, especially his television show "The Rockford Files," and to see him thrown into what is essentially a cameo role really disappoints. He shows up to say hello whenever Ross needs him and then disappears for large parts of the film. I kept thinking how much better the film would have been if Garner played the cop. Heck, how much better if Garner had played the fan! Anything that would have put him in a bigger role! The one saving grace of "The Fan," other than Becall, is the scene where Douglas Breen fakes his own demise. It's an amazingly sordid scene, and up until this incident I wondered how the movie earned its 'R' rating.
Unfortunately, the DVD contains no extras, but the movie does contain all of the aforementioned activities plus Dana Delaney, Griffin Dunne, and a few other well-known faces in very small roles. The musical score from Pino Donaggio, the same guy who did the music for "Tourist Trap," gives the movie a nice edgy feel. I recommend "The Fan" for horror buffs who simply must see as many horror films as possible and Lauren Becall fans, but all others should stay away.
Rating: 
Summary: An Flawed but Strong Suspense-Thriller.
Review: An Number One Fan (Micheal Biehn) is Obsess with a Famous Stage Actress (Lauren Bacall). When his Love Letters are Ignored, he goes on a Killing Spree on the People that the Actress knows in Her Life.Directed by Edward Bianchi made a Clever Thriller. The Cinematography by Dick Bush are Breathtaking. The Acting is First-Rate. Based on a Novel by Bob Randall and Screenplay by Priscilla Chapman and John Hartwell. With a Wonderful Music Score by Pino Donaggio. Biehn gives an Strong Scary Performance as the Obsess Murdering Fan. The Flaws are James Garner is Wasted in a Supporting Role and The Stage Music is Awful. But This is Well Made but At times, Very Odd Movie. Original Theatrical European Cut runs 111 Minutes. Grade:B+
Rating: 
Summary: edge of your seat thriller
Review: I HAVE TO SAY, AFTER I SAW THIS MOVIE IN THE THEATRE , I LOOKED FOR IT EVERYWHERE !!! BECALL AND GARDNER ARE FANTASTIC . THEIR STAR POWER COMES THROUGH .I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT .I WATCH THIS FILM OVER AND OVER , IT NEVER GETS OLD. YOU TRULY HAVE TO LOVE " OLD HOLLYWOOD " TO APRECIATE THIS MOVIE AS MUCH AS I . IT IS VERY MUCH WORTH TAKING A LOOK SEE.
Rating: 
Summary: BACALL TRIES, FILM FAILS....
Review: I have always liked Lauren Bacall as a "tough dame" type actress and her gritty outspokeness off-stage. But this film was a mistake. Maybe in the hands of a better director it would have worked. Bacall tries to make the dilemma of an aging stage star terrorized by a psychotic stalker believable but everything is against her. She forges ahead with her "comeback" Broadway show even after several of those near and dear to her are either slashed to death or just slashed by the straight-razor weilding weirdo who sends her dirty "fan" letters. The facial slashing of poor Maureen Stapleton is downright ugly and repugnant. But it sure heals fast in time for the opening of Bacalls' show. No one could have healed that fast---the multiple slashes were DEEP. Bacall trudges through her stage show numbers surrounded by adoring male dancers. After all, Broadway has been called the Gay White Way and no aging diva would set foot onstage without adoring male dancers. James Garner is utterly wasted as her love interest. He seems to be in the movie just because the two are friends. At any rate, despite Bacall's formidable presence this is a tacky New York filmed slasher show that disappoints on all counts. Bacall deserved better than this.
Rating:
Summary: edge of your seat thriller
Review: I HAVE TO SAY, AFTER I SAW THIS MOVIE IN THE THEATRE , I LOOKED FOR IT EVERYWHERE !!! BECALL AND GARDNER ARE FANTASTIC . THEIR STAR POWER COMES THROUGH .I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT .I WATCH THIS FILM OVER AND OVER , IT NEVER GETS OLD. YOU TRULY HAVE TO LOVE " OLD HOLLYWOOD " TO APRECIATE THIS MOVIE AS MUCH AS I . IT IS VERY MUCH WORTH TAKING A LOOK SEE.
Rating:
Summary: Classy horror flick
Review: I was hoping to get a video of this movie but it's not available. It was wonderful watching Bacall as a highly successful middle aged Broadway singer/dancer. Michael Biehn as her stalker is great and he's been in lots of action movies since this first movie. I've seen "The Fan" several times since it came out and I've never been disappointed. James Garner as her former husband does a fine job too. All in all, I think it's well done and superior to most first run scary movies I've seen in the last decade.
Rating:
Summary: THE FAN is worthy of a look
Review: It's great that "THE FAN" has finally made it onto DVD. It's a very interesting little flick. I read the heart-stopping novel by Bob Randall when I was in high school; the book is a real page-turner - there is no narrartive - it is told entirely as a series of letters and notes between all of the main characters. Being a FAN of the book, I was really DYING to see the movie. I must admit though that the movie, while extremely well-cast and fairly suspenseful, is flawed by the Hollywoodization of the ending. The ending of the novel packed a gut-wrenching wallop which is completely missing from the film. A shame.
Watch the DVD, then read the book!!
Rating:
Summary: Cheap, exploitative, and tasteless (and also good!)
Review: Paramount relased a lot of dogs back in the day, and this film is no exception. I saw it back in my glory years in the 1980s, and looking back, it was an incredibly tasteless film, yet it's also hard to resist. Beihn gives a chilling performance as a nutjob who's obsessed with this movie star (Lauren Bacall, who's too good for trash like this), and writes several letters that get more threatening. Remove the decent cast which also includes James Gardner, and you've got a sleazy slasher film that'd make even Brian DePalma blush. Yet, it's that very sleaziness that makes "The Fan" all the more interesting and watchable. I recommend this only as a guilty pleasure: it's worth a look, but you may not respect yourself in the morning.
Rating: 
Summary: PARAMOUNT HAS MADE MORE EDITS ! ! ! !
Review: Paramount should not release DVD's anymore if they continue to
edit them. ... This time they have edited the scene where the killer reads a letter in voice-over where he originally makes reference to raping a woman using a "meat cleaver." ....
Rating:
Summary: Suspense filled drama with bite
Review: Quite a while before "stalking" as such was as widely known and reported on as it is nowadays this taut little suspense drama "The Fan", came along which I feel for the time, told an original story and filled it with good performers and edge of the seat situations. At the time of its release "The Fan" based on the thriller novel by Bob Randall got alot of flak about some of the bloody scenes and the unnecessary violence but I feel it tells the story well and really is not excessive in its depiction of an ardent fan who loves an actress and slowly becomes obsessed to the point of hatred when his advances are ignored. The real strong point of "The Fan" is in its perfect casting in all departments with both old and new performers. Central to all of the story and action is veteran actress Lauren Bacall in one of her rare starring roles in the 1980's. She portrays Sally Ross, one time Hollywood actress now successful Broadway actress who becomes the unwilling object of one fans over the top adoration. Bacall brings a great deal of style to her performance here and it really is a performance that comes from the old school of Hollywood acting , with glamour, witty lines and lots of cigarette smoking!! All the insider lines about fan letters and publicity and nerves about the next career move are all interwoven into the script in a naturalistic manner which makes you feel that Lauren Bacall could have been using her own experiences to build up the script. She makes Sally a multi dimensional character with elements of bitchiness, insecurity and confidence all rolled into one. She really makes the film and there's alot of insider bits about Hollywood and Broadway ups and downs to make the performance just a trifle auto - biographical. James Garner also makes a welcome return to mainstream acting in the role of Jake Berman, Sally's ex husband and still best friend who finds himself having to literally protect Sally as the tension of the story mounts. While his is a supporting role he makes the most of his scenes . His and Bacall's interplay is really a pleasure to watch as two old style performers really show what screen chemistry in the old Hollywood was all about. The really star making performance in this film however absolutely goes to Michael Biehn in the role of the obsessive fan Douglas Breen. I think he was sensational in this performance as a lonely young man who develops an obsession on star Sally Ross which goes from interest in her, to love, and then through frustration, to hatred and attempted murder. He brings all the right qualities to his performance and is at times both pathetic and scary. His violent scenes where he attacks Sally's personal assistant Belle Goldman (beautifully played by veteran actress Maureen Stapleton)and Sally's leading man in the swimming Pool are harrowing but really add to the high drama of the piece. I'm surprised that after such a great performance in his first feature film after numerous television acting roles that Michael Biehn went into action flicks when he had such great talent for drama. The overraul look of "The Fan" is great and it really captures that exciting atmosphere of the Broadway world very well. The one major failing of the production however is the absolutely God Awful musical production that Sally is rehearsing while being stalked by Douglas Breen. It is atrocious and I couldn't imagine it ever entertaining a New York audience for more than one second little alone becoming the hit of the season. The well staged climax of the story as Douglas traps Sally in the dark and empty Broadway theatre is terrific and really brings the story to an exciting climax as Sally is first pursued and then cornered by her former admirer and has to turn the tables on him by pretending to want to be with him to be able to get away. This climax is taut, has minimal dialogue, and really uses all the elements of the theatre to great effect in creating an edge of the seat finale to the story. Lauren Bacall really has a star role here and I feel she brings all her decades of great acting experience to the fore to make a great impression as fading star Sally Ross. Matched all the way by Michael Biehn it is a unique blending of old and new acting and the two really lift "The Fan" up to being a great little thriller to engross you as it does me with each screening.
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