fandor.com
If you had not heard of Fandor until clicking this link, you are not alone. Up until recently, I had not heard of it either. But after taking a deep dive to explore the service?s ins and outs, I have come out fairly impressed, and I am here to talk about why. As a weary, desensitized-by-media American, I expected Fandor to be just another streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, and all the rest. But I was surprised to learn that it is a totally different type of streaming service, one focused on independent, classic, and foreign films of the arthouse variety.
Filmstruck was a gem for film fans everywhere. It offered an immense collection of many great films, some of which are not typically seen by Hollywood. This is high-brow art, not just popular movies.
Since then, there have been a few niche streaming services that emerged, each vying for their chance to take Filmstruck's place. Enter Fandor. Upon discovering it, I decided to explore it and see what I liked most and what did not appeal to me about Fandor's platform. Is it worth subscribing to? Who?s it for? Let's find out.
How it Started
Unlike other players on the scene, Fandor has been around for a short time. Based out of San Francisco, the service was launched in the spring of 2011 at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Things were pretty shaky in the years that followed. Leadership changed hands multiple times during this period. A big-name hotshot would take the helm as CEO for about a year or two, and then jump ship for something more lucrative.
When the company's leader leaves after such a short time, it usually spells trouble. In December of 2018, the company suddenly laid off its entire staff and announced that it had transferred its assets to a new management firm. In a statement, CEO Chris Kelly said, "We have completed a transaction that allows a new entity to seek to continue the service under different management . . . This is, of course, a disappointing outcome for all who have contributed to and embraced our mission to date."
Since then, the company has been shrouded in a shroud of uncertainty. This has confounded potential customers, and nobody seems to understand whether Fandor is still operating. In short answer: it is. But will it continue to operate? Obviously, if you're thinking about committing to a service, you don't want to sign up if the service might vanish within a few months. Rest assured though, that for the time being, Fandor is here to stay. Kelly's statement clarifies the matter: "The Fandor.com site will continue streaming movies without interruptions. It is not out of business or going out of business."
How it Works
Now that you know that Fandor is still operational, let's discuss how the service works. Basically, it functions like most other premium streaming networks. You sign up for a monthly membership, and this grants you access to the entire catalog. You can sign up directly through Fandor's website for $5.99/month. But if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can save a few bucks by paying for Fandor as an add-on channel through the Prime Video portal for just $3.99/month.
Once you create your account, you'll be able to access the library through the web client or the mobile app, and also through intermediaries like Roku or Prime Video. We'll discuss each of these separately in a little while. For now, though, let's take a look at Fandor's catalog.
What?s Included
Since we're talking about a streaming service specifically geared towards cinephiles, we can't point to certain platform-defining films or series like we can with mainstream services. HBO, for example, has Game of Thrones. Disney Plus has The Mandalorian. But Fandor's titles are eclectic by the very nature of the platform. After all, the website itself states: "The Fandor community is full of movie freaks, genre geeks and tastemakers." So finding common ground to begin with can be difficult.
Still, if you're interested in foreign, indie, and arthouse cinema, chances are that you're at least familiar with some of the classics of film history. Fandor today hosts some of those relics, including Nosferatu, The Exorcist, The General, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
- Inception
Fandor has a contemporary catalog with titles that are strong and diverse. Some of the better-known ones are Oldboy, Moon, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Requiem for a Dream, and Inception.
The Fandor library has a diverse range of genres, which caters to both movie fans who enjoy classics and those that are looking for something new. Not only is the library packed with interesting films, but it also has an international catalog that includes films from all over the world. If you're interested in expanding your cultural vocabulary, this is the perfect opportunity.
Design of the Website
Once you sign in, you'll see the landing portal for Fandor.com. On this page, you'll see the Fandor Spotlight banner. What is the Fandor Spotlight? According to the banner, it showcases "thematically grouped, must-see films, hand-picked by Fandor's curators." Currently, the spotlight shines on family-related films, which will be perfect for preparing for the holiday season.
Hidden beneath the home page's Spotlight banner is a selection of films. Beneath the main website banner, you'll find a minimalistic menu that offers only two drop-down menus: Movies and Editorial. The Movies menu lists further sub-menus like New Arrivals and Genres. But the Editorial menu is a nifty part of Fandor's website that warrants discussion.
As a platform that exists more in the realm of art than entertainment, having an editorial team that writes op-eds and discusses film makes sense. These pieces offer customers a chance to see what the staff thinks of the movies hosted on their platform. Often entertaining and always educational, these articles help you tap into a larger conversation about films in a historical and cultural context.
Mobile Experience
Frankly, Fandor's mobile app is the worst part of the entire platform. Don't just take my word for it. As of this morning, I saw the Fandor app holding a 2.4-star rating on the Google Play Store. Users agree that the app has clunky navigation, a poorly conceived UI, and bizarre failings like the fact that you can't turn on subtitles. Perhaps most importantly, the in-app video quality is awful, and that's inexcusable when we're talking about a paid streaming service in today's day and age.
Prime Video?s Strengths
Given all that's been said, let's take a moment to think about it. If you're interested in indie, foreign, and arthouse films, Fandor is quite attractive in most respects. It boasts a robust selection of classics, a good amount of high-quality contemporary flicks, and an eclectic collection of international films. Editorial articles are well-written and thought-provoking. Plus, the service is very cheap - especially if you tack it to your Prime Video membership as an add-on channel for only $3.99/month.
Prime Video?s Weaknesses
Despite Fandor's shortcomings, there is a good reason why it has not generated as much buzz as Filmstruck. The company has changed hands many times and suffered from general internal schizophrenia, making it difficult to provide an A+ service.
Despite the recent issues, it appears that things are calm for the time being. Maybe this period of stability will allow the team to focus on fixing the mobile app. It's a pretty big deal. Aside from this, I noticed that a lot of people were having trouble unsubscribing to the service, which is not only irritating but also a little seedy. If you don't like it, it should be quite simple to unsubscribe, rather than being made to feel like this obstruction was designed intentionally.
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