The Fly (1986) Horror Movie Review

by Clive
(Cavite, Philippines )

Released: August 15, 1986
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: George Langelaan, Charles Edward Porgue
Starring:

Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle
Geena Davis as Veronica Quaife
John Getz as Stathis Borans
Joy Boushel as Tawny

Some people who haven’t watched this think it’s a joke, but I assure you The Fly is one serious sci-fi horror movie.

First of all, I’d like to inform everyone that the movie doesn’t revolve on the story of a killer monstrous fly, unlike many moviegoers assume. It’s more like a metaphor of A.I.D.S. or Cancer or any other disease that involves the slow deterioration of the human body.

The movie starts with Veronica, a journalist, meeting Seth Brundle, who tells her that he has invented something that will change life as we know it. This leads to him showing her his invention – the Telepods. Telepods are machines that teleport objects to one another, with one setback – they can only teleport inanimate objects.

Veronica, instead of simply writing an article as she had planned, instead agrees to follow Seth’s progress with his invention. After a failed attempt with teleporting a baboon and a few minor adjustments with the Telepods, Seth finally succeeds in teleporting the living object. Seth and Veronica want to celebrate but Veronica has gone to talk to her ex-boyfriend to stop him from trying to get back together with her because now she’s in love with Seth. Seth gets upset when she’s with her ex-boyfriend and tries to teleport himself. The teleportation succeeds… or so it seems. A fly has apparently gone into the Telepod with Seth, leading to the tragic story of a man’s descent into mutation.

Unlike other horror movies, The Fly doesn’t have many scream-out-loud scenes but is instead rich with deeply disturbing subject matter, masterful characterization and cinematography. The only drawback of this film for some is the special effects which are less than what we are used to today. My only personal disappointment is that its Sci-fi components at one time or another somehow drown out its horror unlike its predecessor Alien (1979) that managed to keep its horror dominant throughout. In general though, The Fly is one of the greatest sci-fi horror films made.

Four out of five freak heads.