6 German Films That Positively Wallow In Gloom

2. Der Fan (1982)

cww Exceedingly grim fare from early 1980s German. Simone (Desiree Nosbusch - future Eurovision Song Contest presenter) is a teenage girl obsessed with 'R' a crappy new wave singer whose pathetic and boring music we have to listen to over and over again throughout the film. Simone is so wrapped up in her obsession with R, she is alienated from her family and peers and society. Her obsession is intense and all consuming (literally - as we find out) She attends a TV show he is performing in and finally gets to meet her idol. R decides that she is a bird worth shagging and whisks her away for a good rogering in which we get to see Ms Nosbusch in various states of undress. She is however, only a quick fling for R, and she wants much much more from him than he wants from her and she is murderously prepared to get it... A slow paced horror film which is highly depressing to watch, Der Fan is truly horrific whenever it comes to the film's climax. Apparently something like this DID happen in Germany which is quite a frightening prospect that teenage girls would turn into murderous maniacs over their crushes on famous people. I enjoyed the film very much. It is a weird little film that is a sleeper. Highly original in its execution, it's very slow to build up to the horror but when it reaches its crescendo, it definitely pays off in the gruesome stakes. The dubbed version is atrocious and dispels a lot of the horror in its ineptitude so if you want to watch the film, make sure you get the original German version. If you are into weird, messed up cult horror (especially if you are a Euro horror freak) you must see this film as it will touch the right spots. A highly valuable collector's item.
 
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Contributor

My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!