“The Fanatic” Podcast Movie Review

By Daniel Barnes on November 12, 2019

The Fanatic (2019; Fred Durst) – Dare Daniel Podcast Episode 52

“He’s full of doo-doo!”

It’s Travolt-ember this month on the Dare Daniel podcast, although we’re still writing Cork-tober on all our checks. This week, incompetent street performer Daniel Barnes and hardcore illusionist Corky McDonnell parse the poppycock of The Fanatic.

A “psychological thriller” directed by former Limp Bizkit frontman Durst, The Fanatic is a paranoid revenge fantasy for talentless elitists. Star John Travolta reaches a new career-low as Moose, a dangerously obsessive fan of movie star Hunter Dunbar. The film offers all the hardcore authenticity you would expect from a Hollywood story shot in Birmingham, Alabama.

For his part, Travolta swings for the fences. If you judged acting by volume alone, Travolta would win every Oscar for his performance. His extreme commitment to making terrible acting choices and overdosing on character tics forms a backward version of integrity. Travolta is the only reason to watch this atrociously conceived and executed traffic accident, even if he is awful.

Elsewhere, Daniel and Corky discuss bathroom bullying, vape pen fellatio, Eminem envy and stunt doubles with small asses.

NEW DARES

Christmas with the Kranks (Julio from The Contrarians podcast)

The Ridiculous 6 (Adam Sandler)

THE FANATIC FACTS AND FIGURES

U.S. theatrical release date: August 30, 2019

Domestic box office: $3,153 on opening day

Critic scores: 18 on Rotten Tomatoes; 17 on Metacritic

This week’s craft beer: Moonraker Brewing‘s Galaxy Crush (6.0% ABV)

This week’s Darer: Jaina Sinclair

Why did Jaina dare Daniel and Corky to watch The Fanatic? “I don’t even know if this movie is out yet, but it looks absolutely atrocious. Maybe it’s a bit cruel asking you guys to pay to watch it, but you can’t make an omelet without a pan, a spatula, a heat source, and breaking a few eggs.”

IMDB synopsis: “A rabid film fan stalks his favorite action hero and destroys the star’s life.”

This week’s referenced movies: Gotti; Brainscan; Vampire Academy; An American Werewolf in Paris; Silent Night, Deadly Night Part II; Surviving Christmas; Deck the Halls; Little Nicky; Mr. Deeds; The Wedding Singer; The Waterboy; Click; Murder Mystery; Blended; Cool as Ice; The Education of Charlie Banks; The Longshots; Cruising; Tropic Thunder; The Shining; Fight Club; Rocky III; Pulp Fiction; Taxi Driver; Reservoir Dogs; the Halloween franchise; the Friday the 13th franchise; Top Secret!; the Rambo franchise; Casino; Batman; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; The King of Comedy