Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara – Release date, Trailer, & Everything we know About the Documentary

Hulu’s latest documentary, Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara, plunges into a real-life story of deception and obsession surrounding the beloved musical twins. 

Directed by Erin Lee Carr, known for her gripping true-crime documentaries, the film mixes horror with mystery and promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. 

The documentary gained early buzz after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Carr set the tone with an eerie introduction, calling it a "horrifying" story. And for good reason—the events portrayed are chillingly real.

In recent updates, the release of the official trailer has only heightened anticipation, offering a peek into the psychological thriller that awaits. As Tegan said during the film’s Q&A, if there’s one lesson to take away, it’s “trust your gut”—a hint at the emotional depths the documentary explores.

This article will dive into everything you need to know about Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara, from its chilling plot to the creative forces behind the scenes. Prepare for a thrilling deep dive, and stay tuned as we continue to update you with new information!

Release date & Where to Watch

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara is set to release on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the US and on Disney+ in regions such as Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, LATAM, the Balkans, the Philippines, and Singapore. 

The film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.

Plot

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara is an eye-opening documentary that delves into the harrowing ordeal faced by Canadian indie rock duo, Tegan and Sara Quin. 

The film meticulously explores a years-long catfishing scheme targeting the band's fans. It began in 2008 when an imposter, known as "Fake Tegan" or "Fegan," pretended to be Tegan, forming close relationships with unsuspecting fans through emails and social media. This person shared personal information, demos, and even the sisters’ passport photos, creating deep connections that would later turn abusive.

Despite their usual lighthearted demeanor, the sisters are shown grappling with the violation of their privacy, the emotional toll of the deception, and its damaging effects on their fanbase. The documentary, spanning 16 years of their experience, tracks the efforts to uncover the catfisher’s identity while serving as a cautionary tale about parasocial relationships and the vulnerabilities of online interactions.

Carr’s storytelling blends personal narratives from the fans involved and interviews with the duo themselves, who reflect on the aftermath of these events and their relationship with social media. The documentary also touches on the broader implications for artists navigating the balance between accessibility and safety in the digital age, especially in the context of LGBTQ+ communities.

Fanatical is both a thriller and an intimate account of how trust can be shattered by manipulation, with the documentary uncovering the long-lasting impact on Tegan and Sara, their fans, and their sense of security.

Official Trailer

Behind the Scenes

Carr (who also directs), Elyssa Hess, and Jenny Eliscu produced the documentary, which is a project under Story Syndicate and Carr Lot Productions. Ava Benjamin Shorr does the cinematography, and Tim K. Smith edits. The executive producers are Tegan and Sara, Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Jon Bardin, and Kate Barry.