Aging actress Sally Ross (Lauren Bacall, The Big Sleep) has enjoyed a successful career, which now includes the lead role in an upcoming stage musical. Her personal life has thinned out since divorcing husband Jake Berman (James Garner, The Great Escape), but she's got another admirer in young Douglas Breen (Michael Biehn, in an early film role). He's a long-time fan obsessed with Ross' career and constantly sends letters requesting photos, responses, and personal meetings, but Ross and her assistant eventually stop answering. His letters gradually get more personal, possessive, and threatening; soon enough, Breen decides to do whatever it takes to have Sally as his very own.

And really, that's about as complex as The Fan gets. It's an entirely one-dimensional cat-and-mouse affair with little to no background for any of the characters: Bacall's Sally Ross is just a thinly veiled stand-in for the actress's career at that point, while her "secret admirer" is given one throwaway scene with a family member who implies that he's always been a little nuts. With few exceptions, everyone else is just there for decoration or target practice, including Ross' ex-husband, her much younger boyfriend David (Kurt Johnson), and the likable but ineffective Inspector Andrews (Hector Elizondo, Pretty Woman). Only Ross' loyal assistant Belle (Maureen Stapleton, Airport) feels like a worthy supporting character amidst all the drama and chaos, but her screen time is limited during the film's second half. In any case, the performances are good all around: even those given little "meat" are committed to their characters...and whether you love or hate Biehn's portrayal, it's easy to see that he'd be moving on to bigger things soon enough (as would Dana Delaney, debuting as a pretty young record store clerk who Breen sees as competition).

There's a certain campy enjoyment that can be found here, especially how the shoehorned elements of musical theater and psychological terror often intersect at the worst possible times. But I'll be honest: "campy enjoyment" is all anyone will get out of the film's sporadic slasher attacks, as the violence feels simultaneously gratuitous and laughable. It's not even remotely realistic and would've been better left up to our imaginations; as a result, these acts of terror deflate the suspense that a film like this needs. Breen's encounter with a young man at a gay bar didn't strike me as part of his personal agenda, but its left-field inclusion might rub some the wrong way. On a related note, I found it funny that The Fan is rated R for "strong language and sexuality"...but not "multiple stabbings and setting someone on fire".

The Fan was last released on DVD back in 2002 by Paramount and reviewed by former DVD Talker Ron Epstein (spoiler alert: he hated it). It's since gone out of print and commands high prices via third-party sellers, so those still looking for a physical copy may be interested in Warner Bros.' new burn-on-demand "Archive Collection" DVD. A word of warning: this is basically the exact same barebones disc (despite a rather small aspect ratio change), so anyone hoping for a technical upgrade or extras will be disappointed. One infamous line of monologue was also toned down on Paramount's DVD and remains altered here; as far as I know, the original version can (ironically) only be heard on TV.

This appears be the exact same disc as the OOP 2002 DVD, although (as is customary for most catalog titles released by Warner Bros.) the 1.85:1 image has been opened up to 1.78:1. The difference in composition is negligible and, for the most part, this offers exactly what you'd expect from a 12-year old transfer that was decent for its time: colors are nicely saturated, image detail is sporadically strong, and black levels dig fairly deep. But this still has a very flat, thin, and distinctly video-like appearance more often than not, so anyone used to the near-perfection of more recent DVD and Blu-ray titles may be disappointed. Everyone else will just consider this "watchable" and nothing more. It is worth noting that a digital HD rental or purchase can be made through Paramount via YouTube (which looks quite pleasing, at least from the short preview), so interested buyers may want to just go that route instead of either disc.

The audio is presented in its original Dolby Digital mono format and defaults to a two-channel spread, but this is very much a thin presentation that reflects the era in whichThe Fan was made. Dialogue and music are clear but not especially dynamic, and the relative lack of low end doesn't give the stage numbers a great deal of punch. Still, it sounds exactly like a 33 year-old thriller ought to, and I'd rather have a flat mono mix than a faux-surround "upgrade" (like that other movie featuring Michael Biehn). Optional English subtitles are also included, which is nice.

The Fan is definitely a film that some might enjoy for its camp value, while others will absolutely despise it. Either way, most of the performances are committed or at least watchable, but the film's sporadic lack of restraint cripples many moments that could have been more effective (especially the on-screen violence, which feels like an afterthought). But if you're in the mood for a thriller from the early 80s, The Fan still offers a certain appeal if you can forgive its fundamental flaws. Warner Bros.' Archive Collection DVD offers a burn-on-demand alternative for those unwilling to buy the OOP Paramount release from 2002, although a digital HD download exists and might render both versions obsolete. But unless you're dead-set on owning a physical copy of The Fan, try before you buy. Rent It.