150 Word Review: 'The Fly' (1986)
Bug out
The Fly is an example of a special-effects-laden '80s spectacle that looks as fresh today as Brundle-Fly's open sores.
Cronenberg's remake of the iconic 1958 original — a low-budget mutant insect flick starring Vincent Price —explores fears that still fester in the modern subconscious. This was Cronenberg at the top of his game, an upstart indie shock director gene-spliced with Hollywood's deep pockets. He summons all of his talents, from his intimate understanding of human psychology to his sense of cinematic showmanship.
This is a boy-meets-girl, boy-transforms-into-a-half-fly-monster romance. The real villain? Technology. Disease. Hubris. With progress comes suffering.
The gore is, occasionally, unbearable but exhilarating. Few scenes in movie history are as revolting as lanky Jeff Goldblum's cursed doctor, Seth Brundle, vomiting flesh-melting acid on his ex-girlfriend's ex-boyfriend's hand. The final moment is grotesque and operatic in scale. Geena Davis gives one of the rawest performances in any American horror flick.
Random Rankings
Top 5 David Cronenberg Movies
5. 'Crash' (1996)
4. 'Scanners' (1981)
3. 'The Dead Zone' (1983)
2. 'The Fly' (1986)
1. 'Dead Ringers' (1988)
Even More Body Horror: ‘The Substance’ (2024)
You forgot Videodrome.
Now do Eega (Fly) from India. It’s on Netflix and it’s different and also awesome.