The Fly (1986) User Reviews

One of those rare horror films that's both touching and terrifying in equal measure

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 19 September 2016]

Awkward, yet brilliant and obsessive scientist Seth Brundle (superbly played by Jeff Goldblum) creates a teleportation machine that can transport objects from one pod to another. Things go terribly awry after Seth accidentally merges himself with a housefly. Moreover, his scared, but concerned journalist girlfriend Veronica Quaife (a fine and affecting performance by Geena Davis) decides to stay by Seth's side no matter what happens.

David Cronenberg brings a commendable amount of depth, gravity, and maturity to the gripping story, with the doomed romance between the two main characters giving this picture a poignancy and resonance that makes it substantially more than just another creature feature or mindless splatterfest (although it has to be noted that this movie most definitely doesn't shy away from depicting the extreme mental and physical transformation of Brundle into a hideous mutant in an often shocking and unflinching explicit manner). Better still, the central premise serves as a potent metaphor for everything from cancer to drug addiction to how the ravages of time and age take a harsh toll on us all as we get older. Cronenberg and Charles Edward Pogue's take-no-prisoners uncompromising script deserves praise for having the strength of its bleak convictions -- there's no hokey happy ending to be found here -- and further adds inspired touches of black humor to stop this film from becoming too intolerable in its grimness. In addition, it's a nice touch to have Veronica's obnoxious and unlikable boss and ex-boyfriend Stathis Borans (a deliciously odious portrayal by John Getz) come through as a sort of hero at the shattering climax. Joy Boushel contributes a memorably sexy turn as slutty barroom pickup Tawny while Cronenberg has a neat cameo as a gynecologist in a startling nightmare sequence. The Oscar-winning special f/x by Chris Walas are quite convincing and revolting. Kudos are also in order for Mark Irwin's polished cinematography and Howard Shore's outstanding operatic score. Essential viewing for Cronenberg fans and 80's horror aficionados alike.

This and the Thing are the best horror remakes ever made!!!

[justin-fencsak · 8/10 · 24 May 2020]

During the 1980s, horror was rising, with Friday the 13th started the decade with a bang, with sequels, parodies, and ripoffs in its path. Halloween would have a sequel and many more, and Freddy Krueger started a long running franchise by Wes Craven. What the critics really loved was the remakes of horror movies lured to younger audiences who never saw the originals. John Carpenter's The Thing, while it underperformed at the box office, became a favorite on home video and a cult classic. In 1986, director David Cronenberg, who made heads explode in Scanners and made video horror with Videodrome and changed political horror in the film version of The Dead Zone, would take great risks remaking a 1950s b movie classic, The Fly, by casting Jeff Goldblum as the main character and Geena Davis as his love. Coming out the same year as Aliens and produced by Mel Brooks, The Fly became Cron's highest grossing movie ever and spawned a sequel which didn't do well but became a cult classic in its own right and there are talks of another remake, this time with CGI and a bigger budget. Catch it while its on tv and you'll like the practical effects of the movie as well as the memorable music by Howard Shore. Be afraid, be very afraid...

Still Fascinating & Very Disturbing

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 8 March 2007]

It's been over 20 years since this movie was made, but the special effects are still amazing and the story is an entertaining - and disgusting - as ever! I watch it about every 5-7 years. It's utterly fascinating, but it is so uncomfortable to watch at times I always wonder, as I am viewing it, why I put myself through this each time! The original movie, with Vincent Price, is "dullsville" compared to this re-make.

Things can get really disgusting as Jeff Goldblum ('Seth Brundle") slowly turns into a huge fly. The transformation is very gross in certain spots, and certainly gut-wrenching to witness. You can just feel his girlfriend's anguish and horror as she witnesses Goldblums' incredible physical and mental change. Geena Davis gives a convincing performance in that roles as "Veronica Quiafe."

The story is not just a dumb horror-creature movie, but an intelligent science fiction tale with both leading actors excellent. I don't Davis ever looked prettier, too. John Getz also is good as her magazine boss, "Stathis Borans." Those three characters dominate the film. I can't even remember anyone else in here.

The ending is stunning, almost leaving the first time viewer in shock. In fact, by the nd, this movie will have you emotionally worn out.

next-level stuff going on here

[Willzo · 26 April 1999]

I saw this movie for the first time a few days ago, and I took away two thoughts. 1. This is just about the most depressing film ever made. 2. This is not really a horror picture, or a sci-fi picture. Those elements are present, but the story itself is really an existentialist drama. The most fascinating moments, to me, involve Brundle's metamorphosis, and his total disability to figure out who he is, to make any sense of his continually changing identity. It really makes you think while you're being grossed out. You don't get a lot of that anymore.

Better than the original and one of the best horror films ever made

[Derek237 · 10/10 · 16 July 2003]

David Cronenberg redefined what we think of as creepy with this brilliant film. The makeup special effects and grossouts are top notch, but what is most surprising about The Fly is that it turns out to be a very well acted and emotional love story. It greatly surpasses the original '58 version.

The film focuses on the relationship between Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis at the top and once it takes its turn towards horror it really pays off. It's not just scary, it's a tragedy too. Jeff Goldblum is phenomenal. He is mesmerizing as he delivers great dialogue and once he's barely recognizable he still breaks through the makeup and you can feel the human inside. I can't believe he didn't get an Oscar for this, it's easily his best performance.

I can't express how much I love The Fly. It's more than just horror, and it's proof that you just may find a truly great movie where you least expect it.

My rating: 10/10

Does one thing well

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 7 June 2005]

Most science fiction films are big on ideas and special effects, but weak on coherence and character development; most horror films are just the same, except without the ideas. But David Cronenberg's 'The Fly' takes one simple idea, develops it properly, and eschews (its genuinely terrifying) special effects until its truly horrific climax. And by paying some attention to the personalities of its protagonists, it actually makes you care about them (Jeff Goldblum is excellent in the lead role), and adds a level of serious reflection on the very nature of human mortality to the raw shock. The mix amounts to a gruesomely good film.

Successful transition of Cronenberg's brand of 'body horror' to the mainstream...

[Howlin Wolf · 7/10 · 10 April 2002]

Why is it this film that will always be his REAL 'breakout', and not any of the others before or since? The truth is, beneath all the biological yucks and makeup (there is plenty of both) lies a strong emotional core. Goldblum is enthusiastically likable as scientist Seth Brundle, and Geena Davis is just how Geena Davis seems to be in real life... sweet. It is how the events change both characters EMOTIONALLY, not physically, that inspires the true horror.

The blending of both the above elements makes this remake appeal simultaneously to the 'gross out' crowd, and those in the mood for a more cerebral horror experience. A concept of B-movie stature, electrified by the skills of A-list talent.

Scientific fears

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 27 March 2019]

Have a lot of admiration and appreciation for David Cronenberg. His films are technically very well made and while his films are very disturbing a good deal of his films also have either a dark or subtle wit, poignant emotion or even both. He is for me one of the most interesting and unlike any other out there directors, despite being known for body horror and originating it his films are much more than that.

Like what was said for 'Dead Ringers', one of my favourites of his, all this couldn't be more apparent in 'The Fly' and actually even more so. Despite really liking the 1958 version of 'The Fly', count me in, having seen this film since watching that, as somebody who considers this remake superior by quite some way and by far one of the remakes ever made. This is a rarity when it comes to remakes, with a lot of which deservedly held in low regard and considered as pointless. Yet 'The Fly' feels much more than a remake, one would not know it was one really. It is also a fabulous film on its own merits, a landmark of its genre and one of Cronenberg's best, still is his most acclaimed critically, for sure from personal opinion. Some may not be able to get past the gore, of which there is aplenty and it does churn the stomach, but it was not a problem for me now and do feel one is missing out if not able to get past.

'The Fly' still looks great. Cronenberg's films are seldom less than well made, he always is a very technically accomplished director and 'The Fly' is one of his best looking. Very accomplished and showing a mastery of visuals and effects, with some truly atmospheric, remarkably elegant and clever photography (if not as complex as that for 'Dead Ringers' for example). The special/make-up effects are not just pretty darn impressive, they made me go wow, a technical achievement back then and they hold up extemely well now. Why else would 'The Fly' hold the distinction of being the only Cronenberg to win an Oscar, which was for the makeup (richly deserved, though certainly would have had no problem with 'Legend' winning as the makeup was also amazing in that film)?

Cronenberg regular Howard Shore, the director's "composer of choice" even, provides one of his best scores, which is like its own character and like a character of its own in the film. It is very haunting without being obvious, but what is especially memorable about the score is how it makes something beautiful out of the visual intensity going on, without ever being at odds, and how it goes for the emotional core of the story as well. The orchestration is also some of his biggest and most complex, brought to vivid life by the London Philharmonic, a prime example of this is the opening which has always left a big emotional impact on me.

Some of Cronenberg's best directing can be seen in 'The Fly'. The atmosphere is unnerving in unmistakable Cronenberg style with nail-biting tension to boot. There is a lot of gore and it churns the stomach, but to me the film wasn't too over-reliant on it and didn't use it gratuitously. Even more impressively, as well as being a visual master, he achieves a balance of horror mixed with tense thrills, humour and emotion. The script has delicious dark wit, provokes thought and truly heartfelt and never cloying emotion, not many films achieve this balance so well and Cronenberg was one of the masters at this. The storytelling is some of the most disturbing of any Cronenberg film and of any film, but 'The Fly' is also the film of his that connected with me emotionally the most. The tragedy of the story is truly poignant stuff, and it is genuine, not forced or manipulative.

Not many films of this genre have had me really caring for the characters, and again in a way that was genuine. 'The Fly' did this and is an example to all film, the characters here have depth and well-defined and distinct personalities and character traits and not once did they bore or irritate me. The acting is terrific, as good as Geena Davis is, and she is extremely good, Jeff Goldblum is pretty extraordinary in a very unsettling and sensitive portrayal that disturbed and moved me. Goldblum is always worth watching but he in my mind has never been better than here, one of the best performances in a Cronenberg film.

Altogether, fabulous and one of Cronenberg's best as well as a genre landmark. 10/10

He dreamt he was a man and loved it, but now the dreams over and the insect is awake

[EJBaggaley · 7/10 · 11 December 2004]

The film 'The Fly' has one of the saddest story lines I have ever seen in a horror(Sci-fi and drama) film. Its about a man named Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) who invents a Teleportation machine and accidentally teleports himself with a fly from one transmitting pod to another, which places the insects genetics into Seth Brundle, causing him to slowly mutate into a giant insect. What mostly moved me about this film was the sorrow and pity I felt for Seth Brundle and his girlfriend Veronica (Geena Davis) as he was mutating into an giant insect. To see a man who loved life so much and finally making it in life by meeting the woman of his dreams and by succeeding in his six year goal in inventing Teleportation and then losing it all by transforming into a monster, is enough to put a tear into my eye. I admit this film in many aspects was quite hideous, but because Jeff Goldblums and Geena Davis' acting was so proper and convincing, this is what made the film into what it is. The scene when Seth Brundle went smashing threw the abortion clinic window and then trying to convince Veronica (Geena Davis) not to abort his unborn baby as the baby was the only thing left of the real him, I thought was very sad and moving for Jeff Goldblums acting was so real and professional in that scene, I honestly don't think that any other actor could have played the role of Seth Brundle better than him. I recommend anybody to see this film for I rate it an 7 out of 10.

The terrifying "Brudlefly-project"!

[Coventry · 9/10 · 27 May 2005]

Truly great – but very nasty – update of the classic 1958 sci-fi film with both Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis in the roles of their lives. Technically, this is a remake, but with a genius like David Cronenberg in the director's chair, it's obvious that this isn't anything like the uninspired and irritating remakes that are being released nowadays ("The Amityville Horror", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"…). Cronenberg's interpretation of this ultimate terror-tale differs greatly from the original. In fact, the only resemblance is the basic premise of a fusion between an obsessive scientist and an ordinary housefly. Goldblum is terrifically cast as the brilliant, but slightly confused mastermind Seth Brudle, whose lifework are "telepods"; funny looking machines capable of transmitting matter through space. Journalist Davis, with whom he has a romantic adventure, closely observes the progress of his work but when he teapot's himself through space, the catastrophe happens. Mentally as well as physically, Brudle undergoes a horrible transformation into a fly and it cannot be stopped. "The Fly" is a very devastating film. Powerful enough, but not exactly pleasant to look at. Like only the greatest directors can pull this off, Cronenberg overwhelms the audience with a sublime mixture drama, misery and repulsiveness. You feel as helpless as the characters themselves and you painfully wait for the unhappy ending to come! The screenplay is filled with genuine metaphors and the romance between Goldblum and Davis is beautifully illustrated. The special effects, mainly created by Chris Walas (who went on directing the 1989-sequel) are definitely still staggering and they don't look the least bit dated by today's standards.

A very terrible film to see

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 6 December 2008]

David Cronenberg's version of "The Fly" has little in common with Kurt Neumann's 1958 film of the same title, one of the cheaply made 'creature-features' of the 1950s… Instead, it reveals many of the director's obsessions…

Jeff Goldblum is Seth Brundle, a Mad Scientist who is working on 'teleporting', a means of transporting objects through space… Geena Davis is Veronica Quaife, a magazine writer who becomes interested in his work, and in him… They start an affair, but Seth believes Veronica is still seeing her former lover… In a rage he tries to transport himself, and his genes become caught up with a fly that gets into the machine… Slowly Seth takes on the features of an insect…

As in other Cronenberg's films, sexuality is seen as a dangerous force that leads to disaster… Seth cannot get his amazing machine to transport living creatures until he has experienced the delights of sex with Veronica, but then almost immediately his jealousy leads more like a fly he develops a raging libido; the more physically repulsive he is, the more he wants sex…

Like many successful films of the 1980s, "The Fly" is a hybrid, fusing elements of both horror and science fiction… Considering that the plot is from the latter genre, the elements of fear and disgust with the human body are traditional to horror… Both genres, as this film will illustrate, benefited greatly from the increasing sophistication of contemporary special effects technique, and the make-up abilities… The success of the film led to sequel in 1989, in which the son of Seth and Veronica begins to display familiar symptoms

Exceptional Horror

[morphion2 · 10/10 · 23 March 2007]

Just last week, in one of my Screen Analysis tutorials, our tutor good-naturedly decided that if we were going to be film students we needed to be exposed to disturbing things. What he showed us was an excerpt from an expressionist French film made in the late 20's, the name escapes me. Before we had reached the climactic scene, every one in the class had already guessed it, as we had seen images so far of a man purposely sharpening a razor blade, and then approaching a complacent woman in a chair and holding wide open one of her eyes. At this point one of the girls in the room rather loudly asked of the tutor, jokingly but in something of a shaky voice, "Why are you doing this?"

This question, I think, could well be the definitive mark of really effective horror, and it was certainly in the back of my mind nearly all of last night as I was watching David Cronenberg's "The Fly" for the first time. True horror films, by their nature, should strive to get their audience to ask this question, because it means that they are transcending the illusion of moving pictures and becoming a film – suspending disbelief and getting under your skin. Effectiveness aside, however, I believe that the mark of exceptional horror is when the question stems from a concern for the characters' wellbeing, and not your own. With both these thoughts in mind, I suspect that "The Fly" could well be the second best horror film of all time (behind Kubrick's "The Shining", which, I admit, got to first place by completely different criteria. Such is life, I'm afraid).

Remade from a 1958 concept starring Vincent Price (and later popularized by "The Simpsons"), the film follows a pretty archetypical horror premise: science gone (of course) horribly wrong. In this case, Jeff Goldblum (in his tour-de-force performance) plays Seth Brundle, an independent scientific visionary who has been slowly designing a device that will "change the world as we know it" – a Teleporter. When he shows his invention to romantic interest Veronica (Geena Davis), it is not quite ready to handle living tissue (demonstrated on screen in the first instance of quite confronting gore), but as the two grow a relationship and fall in love, the wrinkles in the technology are ironed out and so Brundle takes one small step for man and tests the machine on himself. Unfortunately, in the process of teleportation, his DNA is mixed up with that of a common housefly, and although not immediately transformed, as in the original, the two species soon begin to genetically merge and transform Brundle into a creature that has never existed before – and for damned good reasons.

Cronenberg, of course, never shortchanges his audience with graphic gore, and even viewed with the critical eye of Generation Y, the film's mid-eighties effects are still quite sickening, none more so than Goldblum's slow physical transformation. What makes this whole affair really outstanding, however, is his psychological transformation: the truly disturbing thing is how front and centre the humanity of these characters and their world is kept. Davis and Goldblum are the heroes in this regard – their chemistry is palpable, and her affection for him struggling against her disgust at what he is becoming, coupled with his own struggle to keep the fly in check, create the kind of riveting discomfort usually only commanded by train-wrecks.

I was, in fact, quite strongly reminded of Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film-adaptation of Hubert Selby's novel "Requiem for a Dream" – although the subject matter differs greatly, both films derive their horror elements most strongly from a place that is completely removed from Horror – and in both examples the source is basically Love. In this sense, the film affects a lot like real life tragedies do, because it begins in a place truly pure and good and unsuspecting, lets its characters discover how wonderful life can be, and then Horror is unjustly, and irrevocably, forced upon them. This is why it is genuinely moving, instead of tacky, when Goldblum resigns to Davis with a regretful and yet matter-of-fact air that "(he is) an insect who dreamt (he) was a man, and loved it. But now the dream is over… and the insect is awake". And in true Cronenberg style, this prophecy becomes quite literal in the third act (think Vincent D'Onofrio in "Men in Black").

Now, in a film that had spent more time on sinister close ups of flies and haunting music cues and not on the bare and essential humanity of the doomed lovers, at this point I probably would have asked "Why are you doing this to me?" and that could have been the end of it – dismissed as senseless disturbing cinema and forgotten. As Cronenberg, Goldblum and Davis have done it, what I asked was "Why are you doing this to them?" And that's the kind of film that you don't ever forget.

A grossest new adaptation from the classic film , being sharply directed by David Cronenberg

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 11 December 2006]

New version from the 1958 classic with Jeff Goldblum as the obstinate scientific who is doggedly trying to make the experimenting in his own body for transportation with a genetic transporter machine . In the beginning he transports objects and monkeys , but one night he decides to test the machine on himself . Unfortunately a fly into the device blends his atomic cells and the gens are mingled . Then he begins to evolve into a human fly . Meanwhile , he falls in love with a beautiful journalist played by Geena Davis who is investigating the strange events by orders of her chief , John Getz , and ex-lover .

This frightening picture displays tension , suspense , shocks and lots of blood and gore . The film provides great loads of scares , grisly events and creepy atmosphere which becomes pretty sinister when the protagonist is become into a fly . The movie is rated ¨R¨ for the crude images , as many scenes are excessively disgusting and gross but it is solely apt for old people , no little boys , neither squeamish , as abound guts , slime and gore . Goldblum gives a vigorous physical performance and totally convincing as the brilliant , crazy research scientist turned into wild human fly . Eerie musical score by nowadays successful Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings) and nice cinematography by Mark Irwin . The film won an Academy Award for a terrifyingly makeup by Chris Wallas (director an inferior sequel with Eric Stolz , Daphne Zuñiga and it was a flop) . Rating : Good but no for kids for violent , realistic and gory images . It's one the highest earnest terror pictures of the 80s ; however , I prefer the excellent classic version by Kurt Newmann with David Hedison and Vincent Price

well-acted but repellent and unremittingly depressing

[andrewcrouch · 4/10 · 25 July 2007]

This is an example of a decent movie that is nearly impossible to enjoy. Paradoxically the special effects are much, much too good at what they do, sucking the entertainment value out of the experience.

Actually, labeling this a decent movie is probably being generous. Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum (until he's buried beneath pounds of make-up) give performances that are both credible and interesting, and I've always liked Howard Shore's operatic score, but those are the highlights. The pseudo-metaphorical science is ludicrous, and far too much time and effort is spent trying to convince the audience that it's not. I respect that there was some restraint shown on Cronenberg's part as far as that goes, but when gene splicing science is the premise of your movie, there's got to be something credible in the explanation of what goes on.

Where there is not the same restraint is in the panoply of special effects detailing Brundle's transformation from man to Brundlefly. Is there a reason for those meticulously crafted (and justifiably famous/infamous) scenes where we learn how Brundlefly eats, or what body parts have become obsolete and have fallen off, other than just to shock and titillate? It strikes me that a more streamlined and less repugnant alternative would have been a Phantom of the Opera-esquire reveal of Brundlefly closer to the end of both his transformation and the storyline, with a building sense of foreboding, a la the original '50s Fly.

This is not the same kind of bad film that "The Fly II" is - this film does most, if not all, things better than its sequel. What sinks this picture (and leaves #2 untouched) is the ambition with which it was made. "The Fly" falls too far short of its own expectations.

One of the best horror movies ever made

[DunnDeeDaGreat · 10/10 · 14 September 2002]

The Fly is more than a horror movie it's a statement of the eighties. I remeber seeing this film for the first time when I was five years old and telling my friends about the gore scenes but as I got older and viewed the film again I realzied how much of a tragic love story the film was. Jeff Goldblum gave an Oscar worthy performanc of ill fated scinenits Seth Brundle and Genna Davis gave an equally good performance as his love interest. The special effects were very good for the eighties and the film does have some scary moments. If you've never seen the film you should.

A horror masterpiece my favorite one David Cronenberg best movie

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 3 September 2017]

My all time favorite horror film and everyone who watch it and like it knew it is a true David Cronenberg masterpiece and of course his best film! It is a stylish science-fiction horror film based on George Langelaan's 1957 short story of the same name.

The film tells of an eccentric scientist who, after one of his experiments goes wrong, slowly turns into a fly-hybrid creature. My all time favorite creature horror film I have this movie in my video Blu-ray collection and I love 80's horror films to death.

Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is a scientist working on a project which is a teleportation device that can teleport molecular structures until one day he experiments on himself with it accidentally lending a Fly into the machine with him being fused. He seems normal after that but days later he is changing and even his sexy journalist girlfriend (Geena Davis) even starts to notice his weird changes he grows through each day like if he's decaying and that he will soon become a monster.

Powerful and horrifying remake of the 1958 Vincient Price Science Fiction horror classic! Canadian Sci-fi/horror/thriller mastermind David Croenberg sets up another masterpiece much like "Eastern Promises", "Videodrome", "Naked Lunch", "Scanners", "The Brood" or even "A History of Violence" for proving he's a genius on all levels.

This one nearly tops the original in some ways using state of the art special effects and gore from Chris Walas ("Gremlins" and "Scanners") which are quite disgusting to this day like the stomach churning dough nut scene.

The performances are just flawless and the film also has emotional which makes this a great Sci-fi horror movie with pure though and disturbing images, this one isn't for weak stomaches but it is a brilliant movie that goes into our deepest fears and mind. A winner all the way!

Score A+ 10/10 really recommend you to see this movie you want be disappointed you will be thrilled like I was.

The Fly is a 1986 American science-fiction horror film directed and co-written by David Cronenberg. Produced by Brooksfilms and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz. Loosely based on George Langelaan's 1957 short story of the same name.

10/10 Grade: A+ Studio: 20th Century Fox Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz Director: David Cronenberg Producer: Stuart Cornfeld Screenplay: Charles Edward Pogue, David Cronenberg Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hrs. 36 Mins. Budget: $15.000.000 Box Office: $40,456,565

A Deceptively Disgusting Love Story...

[azathothpwiggins · 4 June 2020]

Director David Cronenberg takes a different approach with THE FLY than in his other horror films. On its surface, it's a story about an experiment gone horribly awry, resulting in a hideous hybrid / mutation. In reality, it's a tragic love story about a woman named Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) and her quirky, scientist boyfriend, Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum).

Indeed, the experiment does go wrong, and notoriously sickening horror ensues. Through the course of the movie, Brundle undergoes an astonishingly repulsive transformation. The special effects and makeup in this movie are phenomenal! However, this is not just about a man in a frightening rubber costume.

This is a movie with surprising emotional depth. Veronica's love for Brundle is tested beyond all measure, right up to the frenzied finale. Ms. Davis is absolutely believable in her devastated role, as is Mr. Goldblum in his series of deteriorating states. These are star-crossed lovers, caught up in something that could very well destroy them both. It's about what happens when someone we adore is stricken with something debilitating / disfiguring and dangerous. Veronica stays with Brundle far beyond the point of sanity. Only her deep feelings for him could allow such devotion.

One of Cronenberg's most intriguing and insightful efforts...

Almost unwatchable in some of the detail

[christopher-underwood · 7/10 · 24 December 2020]

I'm not particularly keen on Jeff Goldblum, I find him rather awkward and slightly embarrassing, although, as it happens, that works for him here. Geena Davis, here before she really hit the big time and seems somewhat uncertain, although again, this seems to be an advantage here. Everything is extremely well paced and logical as we move quickly towards the true horror that this story is. Almost unwatchable in some of the detail, this is much closer to Cronenberg's usual body fusing and fashioning obsessions than would have at first appeared. I am confident that this succeeds in just the way the director envisaged, presumably with limited budget, in restricted filming area, its just that it succeeds so well it really is rather difficult at times.

A masterpiece aided by special effects

[fabian-16 · 9/10 · 22 July 2000]

I think that this is a grossly underrated film - a noteworthy landmark in modern horror. I would expect nothing less than excellent from my favourite director Cronenberg, and this doesn't disappoint. Goldblum's performance is particularly good as the nervy scientist Brundle, but I think the main reason for the film's achievement is its structure - very subtle, very well made. Most of the action takes place in the last third of the picture, but there is a great suspense building up to that point. And the special effects are jaw-dropping - Brundle's hideous transformation is reminiscent of Lynch's 'The Elephant Man'. This film has a reputation for being unnecessarily gory, which is actually not at all true. It is a very intelligent picture, about love and other issues as much as horror, and a must-see for anyone.

Jeff's Kiss

[southdavid · 7/10 · 14 March 2021]

Idly browsing the Disney Plus 'Star' Channel and we came across "The Fly"and decided to give it a watch. Though time hasn't been kind to some aspects of the film, the visual effects are still breathtaking.

Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) a scientist of the verge of a breakthrough begins a relationship with Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) a journalist looking for the next big science story. Seth's innovation is in matter transportation and on a drunken emotional night he decides to become the first human to go through the machine. Unfortunately, a house fly is trapped in the booth with him and the machine, unable to tell one DNA strand from another, fuses them together on a molecular level. As the fly aspects begin to win out, Seth's immediate physical improvements give way to mental and bodily decline before Seth comes up with a desperate plan to save himself.

As I said, in some ways, the film's 80's aesthetic really does date it somewhat. This does feature in the clothing styles obviously (Geena Davis' shoes and socks combinations are a particularly galling example) but also in some of the tonal choices. The lack of an epilogue scene, for example, where we might have discovered what happens to Veronica's baby, feels usual to a modern audience but also with the entire character of Stathis Borans (surely one of the oddest name choices for a character ever). Borans is played by John Getz and is Veronica's ex and who has a creepy, borderline obsessive preoccupation with her. He ultimately becomes the hero of the story but he's tough to root for, or feel sorry for, given his earlier actions.

Chances are though, you're here for the effects which are never less than solid and often truly spectacular. Mostly practical, they range from effective stuff, like the breaking of the arm during the arm wrestling scene, through clever combinations of wire work and set building to give the impression of Brundle climbing the ways - to the most impressive, the head bursting reveal of the creatures final form.

I really enjoyed this viewing and it's inspired me to try and revisit some more of Cronenburgs body horror classics.

Brussels, Belgium

[RIK-22 · 9/10 · 26 July 1999]

It was nice reading the reviews for this film as so many people picked up the real elements of this movie and not just about the horror.

This movie, as most great movies, is a subtle love story, where someone realises they are a burden and maybe even a danger to them, and so make the ultimate sacrifice.

Cronenberg is probably my favourite director as he is able to take unusual film idea and turn it into something intense and believable. As he has evolved he has improved his writing and as a results the stories have become more hidden and more intelligent.

I think the Fly, Deadzone and Videodrome are his best work. His more recent films, Crash and the Naked Lunch have impressed me with his ambition and ability to try something new, but have failed as entertainment.

I can't really put my finger on how Cronenberg is able to create the intensity and atmosphere that he does, even with very obscure subjects, but I would love to see him try some less obscure subjects and make films of the caliber of the Fly again.

Highly recommend – 9/10

A nice transformation!

[AvionPrince16 · 7/10 · 1 August 2021]

That movie remind me a lot of khafka's books. I really enjoyed it despite the horrific situation. The movie dont really scare me but it tell a story who the situation can scared us. It was a pretty good experience and recommend people to watch it. Can be sad and gross sometimes.

A Superb and Terrifying Movie!

[Chris-332 · 10/10 · 9 January 2000]

I have to admit it. The Fly is the only David Cronenberg movie I have ever seen. I haven't seen any of his others, such as The Dead Zone, Naked Lunch, or eXiStenZ (I think that's how you spell it). But it's just an example that you don't have to be a Cronenberg fan to enjoy this classic. The movie was definitely not a horror movie starring a mad scientist who transforms into an evil fly. It's really not even a horror movie. It's a drama with amounts of romance and suspense/horror. Jeff Goldblum did the best performance of his career as Seth Brundle, a scientist who has invented something he calls "Telepods". They're pods that transport you from pod to pod, space to space. He tests this invention with animals and objects until one night he gets very mad because he believes his girlfriend (Geena Davis) is seeing someone else (John Getz), even though his belief is wrong. He tries the pods out for himself, unknowing that a fly got trapped in the pod with him. The pods splice them together, and slowly throughout the movie, Seth Brundle transforms into a gross and devastating creature, half man, half fly.

The movie had no errors in it. The acting was great, the terrifying score by Howard Shore was amazing, the directing was exceptional, the story was brilliant, and the extremely sick and disgusting special effects were fantastic. Go see this movie! But don't go on a full stomach, unless you want to lose that meal in you.

In some ways better than the original, but with emotional holes

[secondtake · 7/10 · 7 July 2010]

The Fly (1986)

I just saw the original 1958 "The Fly" and as creaky as it was in some ways, it was a thrilling idea and had some great roles. Two days later I'm zooming ahead three decades, and boy, what a difference a day makes. It's better and it's worse. But rather than compare them, we turn to the 1986 version, directed by semi-auteur big budget director, David Cronenberg.

The story again dominates, but it has taken amazing leaps in concept. If you like the transporter idea, that's only the beginning. The longer the movie runs, the more bizarre and campier it gets. In fact, if you can skip the first half hour (and you could, actually) you'll have more fun. In the second half of the plot, the lead boy genius scientist (now more like 30) played by Jeff Goldblum, disintegrates. This is good for a lot of reasons, one of them is to get beyond Jeff Goldblum the actor, who seems to alway show his awareness of the camera and ruin what might be better acting, and better characters. So when he is no longer quite himself, we are mesmerized by the horrors of the plot. Of course, you have to get past the grotesqueness of it all--it is really gross--but that's part of the ongoing shock.

Geena Davis? Completely convincing and solid as a reporter and eventual second fiddle to Goldblum. And the third actor with any part at all, John Getz, the reporter's editor, is forgivably awful, and meant to be unsavory. The relationship (sexual and otherwise) between these three is unconvincing at best, and the notion that the reporter would even slightly trust this editor is untenable. That much we need to believe in, just as much as we can imagine the other love affair, which is both believable and loaded with implications later.

But the idea, the idea! Simplified and impossible, it's still a perfect movie scenario, and it's a riot, and terrifying. When it defies logic, swallow and give it a chance. Not a quite great movie, but great fun.

Remake is, if nothing else, a technical marvel...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 25 July 2015]

Director David Cronenberg's remake of the so-so Vincent Price fright-flick from 1958 is a technical marvel, though the characters are ultimately frittered away in favor of shocks. Nerdy, dateless scientist Jeff Goldblum (excellent) brings home a pretty journalist from a scientific convention and shows her his teleportation pods...this could be the start of something big! He has managed to break down the molecular structure of inanimate objects and transfer them from one pod to another. Unfortunately, he's having trouble transferring live matter (a monkey quickly goes splat in the film's most horrific sequence). We never learn how Goldblum manages to figure out the problem and fix it, but soon he's climbing into the machine himself--along with a stowaway fly. Cronenberg, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Charles Edward Pogue from George Langelaan's magazine story, seems an ideal fit for this squeamish material, and yet the film never quite takes off (it's too simple-minded--and too easily wrapped up--to be worthwhile to anything but indiscriminating fans of the horror genre). Goldblum's transformation is well done, and Cronenberg admirably takes his time building the foundation which will lead us to the showdown, but that's all the film is: a build-up. There's no rush of exhilaration in the denouement because the picture is all technique--it's mechanical--while the love story between Goldblum and Geena Davis is half-hearted (as if Cronenberg didn't believe in it) . A huge financial success, it led to a sequel in 1989 with a new cast and director. Chris Walas & Stephan Dupuis deservedly won Academy Awards for their makeup. ** from ****