‘Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan & Sara’ Unpacks 16 Years of the Canadian Duo Being Tormented by an Impersonator

As a seasoned movie-goer and documentary connoisseur with a penchant for investigative films that delve deep into the human psyche, I must say “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan & Sara” is a chilling and gripping addition to the genre. This film is not for the faint-hearted; it’s a thriller that will leave you questioning the depths people can sink to in the digital age.

Director Erin Lee Carr poses the question, ‘Who’s excited for an unsettling documentary?’ at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Friday night. Her introduction to the world premiere of ‘Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan & Sara,’ at the Toronto International Film Festival, is not merely dramatic. In truth, ‘Fanatical’ is a blend of horror and mystery.

Later in the Q&A session, Tegan emphasizes that one key lesson from the movie is to always trust your instincts.

The movie, available on Hulu in the U.S. from October 18th and Disney+ in Canada, delves meticulously into the experiences of the Canadian indie-rock duo over the past 16 years and beyond. The filmmakers are on a mission to unmask the individual posing as Tegan Quin via email and direct messages, who is known as “Fake Tegan” or “Fegan.

42-year-old Canadian twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin, famous for songs like “Closer” and “Walking with a Ghost,” are typically humorous when they speak between songs, using witty remarks and self-deprecating humor. However, the documentary “Fanatical” reveals that the situation was anything but amusing for them. The film illustrates how grueling, terrifying, and traumatic the experience has been for the duo, as well as their loved ones and certain fans who were unknowingly manipulated (as depicted in the movie), thinking they had formed genuine friendships with one of their beloved musicians. In a particularly distressing incident, the individual known as “Fegan” displayed flirtatious and sexually charged behavior, only to then turn abusive.

The “extremely scary story,” as Tegan refers to it at the movie’s outset, unfolds in 2008 when a fan named Julie communicates with “Tegan” via her online profile and receives a response. An imposter then started sending song demos and disclosed private information. Over time, they developed a friendship, and in 2011, “Fegan” shared a link and password to a drive containing the sisters’ passport photo pages. In the movie, Julie mentions that it seemed suspicious, so she contacted Tegan and Sara’s management at the time. Their response was, “She has no idea who you are.

Then, “Tegan has a big problem.”

If the act of a pretender divulging their passport, demos, and private details wasn’t already unsettling and worrying, the catfishing escalates to an even more intrusive level, as “Fegan” initiates contact with Tegan and Sara’s followers, cultivating close friendships.

Concerned it might escalate if made public, Tegan hid the fact that she had been hacking emails and catfishing from the media. However, during a question-and-answer session after a screening, she disclosed that hearing about a sophisticated catfisher on the “Sweet Bobby” podcast two years ago brought back forgotten memories of “Fake Tegan”.

She started writing down her own story, then approached music journalist Jenny Eliscu (a producer on the project) who introduced her to Carr, who has directed some sensitive or personal topics, notably 2019’s “At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal,” 2021’s “Britney vs. Spears,” and 2021’s “The Ringleader: the Case of the Bling Ring.”

After the screening, Tegan expressed greater certainty that they possessed the sensitivity, understanding, and expertise needed to handle it delicately, as she firmly believes that respect for the audience is paramount. She feels this is crucial because she doesn’t think they can expect reciprocal respect unless they show it first.

In 1995, these two sisters came together to create their indie-rock duo as teenagers. They managed to gather a substantial fan base, particularly within the LGBTQ community, and became quite popular. Unlike their sister Tegan, Sara was not fond of the internet and did not use it extensively for fan interactions, unlike how Tegan did.

Apart from performances, Tegan engaged with fans outside shows and at merchandise booths. The sisters started pondering if the catfisher could possibly be someone they had known. However, while “Fegan” has caused distress to their feelings of security and trust, “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan & Sara” serves as a reminder for fans to exercise extreme caution and vigilance in this digital era characterized by direct messages and artificial intelligence.

Following the screening, Tegan expressed, “I value ensuring it doesn’t appear as if we are singling out or criticizing fans or fan communities in general. I believe most individuals worldwide are compassionate and well-intentioned, and their interest is likely balanced. However, every artist reaches a pinnacle, and for us, that peak coincided with this period. It sparked our concerns about how to interact online – and it made us quite apprehensive.

While no one was physically hurt in this catfishing tale, the term “Fanatical” certainly highlights the emotional impact it had on those deceived. One fan expressed that they could no longer enjoy listening to their music.

As a passionate cinephile, I was thrilled to hear Carr’s statement during the Q&A about the participants in the film who willingly shared their communications. They agreed to do so with the aim of identifying the perpetrator, not for any other purpose. Carr emphasized that he had no intention of causing embarrassment to anyone. Instead, this documentary was a genuine and intricate portrayal of someone’s life. He explained, “This is where you’ll find validation for your feeling that this story felt real.

Tegan’s imposter continues with this behavior up until now, it seems likely,” she summarized. “I replied, ‘By creating this movie, perhaps we can stem the flow of these incidents.’

2024-09-16 17:17

‘Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan & Sara’ Unpacks 16 Years of the Canadian Duo Being Tormented by an Impersonator

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