History YMMV / TheFanatic

* Additionally, the other actors in the film do a pretty good job at portraying their characters, in spite of how awful the movie is.

* NightmareRetardant: Moose is supposed to be an unsettling example of how far fans can take their fanaticism, and the music and the direction is obviously trying to push that narrative. However, rather than portraying him as this crazed and psychotic stalker he is advertised as, in the film he is instead portrayed as a buffoonish and child-like simpleton similar to Film/{{Borat}}. That, combined with his looks (especially that ridiculous looking mullet), John Travolta's performance and even his name all make it impossible to take the character seriously.

* NightmareRetardant: Moose is supposed to be an unsettling example of how far fans can take their fanaticism, and the music and the direction is obviously trying to push that narrative. However, his looks (especially that ridiculous looking mullet), John Travolta's performance and even his name make it impossible to take the character seriously.

** In the climax Hunter tricks Moose into letting down his guard and attacks him, shooting off his fingers and throwing him down the stairs. Rather than simply escape or call the police when Moose is incapacitated, Hunter proceeds to further maim and beat the now defenceless Moose, including tearing out one of his eyes, with his expressions and body language even implying that Hunter is ''[[{{Sadist}} enjoying]]'' seeing Moose in such pain. That said, Hunter is later [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone horrified by what he's done]] after doing all that to Moose. He's even nice enough to [[PetTheDog wrap Moose's hand in a bandage]].

** In the climax Hunter tricks Moose into letting down his guard and attacks him, shooting off his fingers and throwing him down the stairs. Rather than simply escape or call the police when Moose is incapacitated, Hunter proceeds to further maim and beat the now defenceless Moose, including tearing out one of his eyes, with his expressions and body language even implying that Hunter is ''[[{{Sadist}} enjoying]]'' seeing Moose in such pain.

'''Or:''' Hunter to just shoot and kill Moose. California has Stand Your Ground laws[[note]]both at the time of updating this page, and at the time the movie is set[[/note]], and this is clearly a case where he would be in the right of said law[[note]]aside from the fact that Moose had killed Hunter's maid earlier (granted, there isn't any indication Hunter knows that, but still), Moose is technically breaking and entering, and is clearly a threat to Hunter and his son[[/note]], plus given how Hunter has treated Moose so far, it's clearly not like he would have that much of a problem pulling the trigger.\\

* MemeticMutation: The film's [[{{Narm}} ridiculously insensitive]] portrayal of the autistic Moose has led to some viewers claiming that Travolta [[Film/TropicThunder "went full retard"]].

* WTHCastingAgency: Creator/JohnTravolta as a mentally-ill stalker? Whose idea was that?

* NightmareRetardant: Moose is supposed to be an unsettling example of how far fans can take their fanaticism, and the music and the direction is obviously trying to push that narrative. However, his looks (especially that ridiculous looking mullet of his), John Travolta's performance and even his name make it impossible to take the character seriously.

* NightmareRetardant: Moose is supposed to be an unsettling example of how far fans can take their fanaticism, and the music and the direction is obviously trying to push that narrative. However, his looks and John Travolta's performance make it impossible to take the character seriously.

* {{Narm}}: The movie is filled with these, most notably Moose kissing Hunter.

'''Or:''' Hunter to just shoot and kill Moose. California has Stand Your Ground laws[[note]]both at the time of updating this page, and at the time the movie is set[[/note]], and this is clearly a case where he would be in the right of said law[[note]]aside from the fact that Moose had killed Hunter's maid earlier (granted, there isn't any indication Hunter knows that, but still), Moose is technically breaking and entering, and is clearly a threat to Hunter and his son[[/note]].\\

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Hunter tells his son that Music/LimpBizkit was cool while playing their song. It serves no purpose other than for the director to self-indulge in his past glory.
* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: It's hard for the audience to sympathize with both Moose (for his stalking tendencies towards Hunter and what he does to him) and Hunter (for being an all-around {{Jerkass}}).

'''Result:''' [[spoiler:The police cannot link Moose to the murder of Hunter's homekeeper and arrest Hunter instead, who didn't murder her.]]

* SoBadItsGood: Despite the film suffering from being bad when it comes to screenplay and direction, it's still enjoyable for Creator/JohnTravolta's [[HamAndCheese over-the-top performance]].

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: It's hard for the audience to sympathize both Moose (for his stalking tendencies towards Hunter and what he does to him) and Hunter (for being an all-around {{Jerkass}}).

* SoBadItsGood: Despite the movie suffers from being bad when it comes to screenplay and direction, it's still enjoyable for Creator/JohnTravolta's [[HamAndCheese over-the-top performance]].

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Hunter tells his son that Music/LimpBizkit was cool while playing their song. It serves no purpose but to make the audience think that its director was the vocalist of the band.
* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: It's hard for the audience to sympathize both Moose (for his stalking tendencies towards Hunter) and Hunter (for being an all-around {{Jerkass}}).

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Hunter tells his son that ''Music/LimpBizkit'' was cool while playing their song. It serves no purpose but to make the audience think that it's director was the vocalist of the band.
* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: it's hard for the audience to sympathize both Moose (for his stalking tendencies towards Hunter) and Hunter (for being an all-around {{Jerkass}}).

* SoBadItsGood: despite the movie suffers from being bad when it comes to screenplay and direction, it's still enjoyable for Creator/JohnTravolta's [[HamAndCheese over-the-top performance]].