The Fanatic 2019

Moose is an autistic man who works as a street performer on Hollywood Boulevard. An avid film buff, Moose fills his apartment with memorabilia from various movies, including those of cult movie star Hunter Dunbar, with whom he has developed an unhealthy parasocial obsession. When Moose finally gets an opportunity to meet him and get an autograph, he loses his chance when Dunbar’s ex-wife Brenda abruptly arrives and starts an argument. As Dunbar storms away, Moose follows him begging for an autograph, only for a frustrated Dunbar to rudely accost him.

Later, Moose’s friend, a young paparazza named Leah, shows Moose a mobile app that publishes the home addresses of famous celebrities, including Dunbar. Moose visits Dunbar’s house and tries to give him a letter while also begging him for an autograph. Dunbar, fearing for the safety of his young son around Moose, tells him to stay out of their neighborhood, reluctantly signing Moose’s shirt as an autograph. Moose returns by climbing a fence, but is scared off by Dunbar’s housekeeper Dora. Despondent, Moose gets into an argument with Leah and then violently attacks Todd, a crude fellow performer who had earlier harassed and tormented Moose.

Moose returns to Dunbar’s home and is once again confronted by Dora. Becoming frightened, he pushes her away, inadvertently causing her to fall and strike her head, killing her. He sneaks into Dunbar’s house, going through his personal belongings before hiding in a closet. Later, Dunbar returns home and falls asleep. Moose touches his body and takes photos next to him, which he uploads onto his social media accounts before fleeing.

The following day, Dunbar sees Moose on his street and threatens to kill him if he sees him again, and also calls him a stalker. Moose has a mental breakdown and burns all of his Hunter Dunbar memorabilia. Leah visits him and confronts him about his behavior, threatening to go to the police for his own good, but Moose kicks her out of his home.

Moose returns to Dunbar’s home while he’s asleep and ties him to his bed. After Dunbar wakes up, Moose taunts him with a series of cruel and violent pranks. A terrified Dunbar pleads for Moose to let him go with promises of autographs and friendship. Moose agrees and unties Dunbar, who brutally attacks him. After shooting off Moose’s fingers with a concealed rifle and stabbing him in the eye, Dunbar collapses, shocked by his own actions. Dunbar regains his composure and calmly escorts Moose out of his home.

Moose aimlessly wanders the streets of Hollywood, as passing tourists request to take photos with him, believing his wounds to be realistic prosthetic makeup. Leah finds him and takes him to a hospital. Meanwhile, Dunbar is arrested by the police, who mistakenly believe he killed Dora. Leah describes how Moose “eventually looks at his injuries like a badge of honour”, followed by a drawing of a happy Moose with a pirate hook and an eye patch, with Leah included in the drawing as a guardian angel.