I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

"Fanatic" aka. "The Last Horror Film" (1982) is sometimes labeled "Maniac 2", which cane merely be interpreted as an attempt to cash in on William Lustig's ultra-nasty 1980 shocker "Maniac", which featured the same cast. The incredibly creepy-looking Joe Spinell played the eponymous girl-butchering maniac in Lustig's film, and he once again plays a rather demented role here. However, as opposed to "Maniac" which is easily one of the most disturbing American Horror films of the early 80s, "Fanatic" is rather a dark comedy, or a darkly but strongly satirical Horror film to say the least.Spinell plays Vinny Durand, a New York taxi driver, mama's boy, total psycho and fanatical film fan, who plans to make his own Horror movie starring the star he worships, Horror beauty Jana Bates (played by Caroline Munro, who also played the female lead in "Maniac"). He follows her to the film festival in Cannes, where he tries to stalk her, but never manages to come close to her. In the meanwhile, more and more of Jana's associates in the film business end up in gory massacres..."The Last Horror Film" satirizes the 80s controversy whether watching violent and gory Horror films will turn viewers into violent psychopaths. Some fellow reviewers seem to state that the (gory) film absurdly agrees with that ridiculous assumption, but, as far as I am concerned, the opposite is the case: Some people's cry for censorship in the 80s (the decade of the UK's infamous 'Video Nasty' list) is ridiculed by the film. Joe Spinell is always great for extremely sleazy, perverted and creepy roles, and his performance is doubtlessly the main reason to watch "The Last Horror Film". Caroline Munro is a beauty as are most other female cast members, all of whom are eager to expose their breasts. Sadly, "Fanatic" features no suspense at all, and while there is some gore it is not comparable to the disturbing nature of "Maniac". The film has its very funny moments though, mainly provided by Spinell's character's extreme eccentricities. The film is certainly no must-see, but it nonetheless provides a good laugh.

Vinny Durand(Joe Spinell)is a New York cab driver who lives with his loving mum and dreams of becoming a famous film director.He is obsessed with horror icon Jana Bates(Caroline Munro)and follows her to Cannes where he will try to convince her to star in his first horror movie.When members of her film crew begin to die suspicion falls on Vinny.Is he responsible for the murders or is this all a giant publicity stunt?"The Last Horror Film" is nowhere nearly as gory and gruesome as "Maniac".It has many references to Spinell's personal life for example the film was shot in Joe Spinell's apartment,where he actually lived and ultimately died in 1989.The gore effects include for example a bathroom throat slashing and following decapitation and chainsaw dismemberment.The script is quite sincere and original,so if you have a chance give "The Last Horror Film" a look.8 out of 10.

I don't know about a film that starts off with a man (Joe Spinell) pleasuring himself in a movie theater as an inflated babe (J'Len Winters) gets electrocuted in a hot tub.This film brings back Spinell and Caroline Munro, who made Maniac two years prior.In this film Vinny (Spinell) is a taxi driver and wannabe director that stalks Jana Bates (Munro) at Cannes trying to get her in his film. Thing is, people around Jana are dying and she is receiving ominous notes. Is it Vinny? Set in Cannes, you can be sure that there is an overabundance of boobage. There are more tatas than blood. Vinney is getting nowhere as his New York cabbie appearance doesn't get him in any doors at Cannes.So the whole film is Vinney trying to get in touch with Jana with the background of a film festival.You've seen enough to know how this is going to end.Good job by Joe Spinell, but there just wasn't enough to keep the interest for a full 87 minutes.

Cannes is not the right place for a horror movie.Not only this kind of flick never won any prize,but to my knowledge ,few -if any- of those estimable works were ever shown there.There was in France a festival reserved for the fantasy and horror genre in Avoriaz but I think it no longer exists -Avoriaz gave too many awards to films which would not deserve a chocolate medal,and their decision to call it a day made sense- Anyway,"The last horror film" would have had its chances in a Harvard Lampoon Movie Worsts competition,but no more....The movie begins well enough with hints at the news of the time: it's because,they teach us,someone saw Jodie Foster in "taxi driver" that he felt like slaying Regan...and there's also John Lennon and more ...The movie blends real life and movies and the unexpected ending does not create a big surprise ,in spite of mama's funny last words.To pack a real wallop,it would have taken a strong story ,an efficient directing and good actors.Also handicapped by a lousy soundtrack which deals out neodisco and a music that passes for rock in made-for-TV works.The story:a director and her star are very successful and they plan to live together.But will the lady's husband be prepared to accept it.And there's another "director" (some kind of Ed Wood) whose greatest wish is to have the actress in his own film.The killing begins.