The Fly

Movie Name: The Fly
Year of Release: 1986
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel, Leslie Carlson
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Horror
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
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Synopsis and Review:

Director David Cronenberg followed his 1983 double releases of "Videodrome" and "The Dead Zone", with his biggest budget at the time, produced by a big Hollywood studio, 20th Century Fox. "The Fly" focuses on the story of Seth Brundle, a genius inventor, who we first encounter in a Science Fair, trying to persuade a smart journalist by the name of Veronica, to come to his lab, so he can do a live demonstration of what he's currently working on. He's working on a device which manages to get elements to be transported from one pod to the next using simple energy. While Veronica wants to share the news with the scientific community immediately, Seth entices her with the project of writing a more thorough book which documents the evolution of the invention, since he still needs to perfect the device, in order to allow it to successfully move organic beings. As the documentation continues to occur, Seth and Veronica also become romantically involved. Brundle eventually is successful at transporting living beings, but one night feeling rebuffed by Veronica, he decides to try the device himself, not noticing the device has a fly in its interior. When he comes out, everything seems fine, until changes start to occur.

The short story "The Fly" from author George Langelaan, had already been adapted to a feature film by Kurt Newmann in 1958. This new version however, took the concept quite further, particularly with director David Cronenberg being particularly interested in what this merger of an alien element with a human eventually produced. One of the most captivating and arresting elements of the first phase of David Cronenberg's films, was his focus on how human beings and their bodies can mutate and become something else, either by sheer will of their own, or by force of circumstances. "The Fly" is a perfect example of that: Seth Brundle, a somewhat shy and awkward scientist, once he's gone through the device ("purified" as he states at some point), becomes a self assured man, with this newfound voice and power, which he isn't shy about using or basking on. He revels in this newfound energy, that is until he starts realizing what has happened and what the future lies. As he begins to deteriorate, and his quest for more life, to reverse what happened intensifies, so does the monstrous actions he begins to do. It's a fascinating observation of the human quest & lust to be seen, admired and loved, mixed with the fear of being monstrous, and ultimately nixed by humanity. The central trio of actors is fantastic, with Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz, all perfectly cast, truly bringing to life these lead characters. The cinematography from Mark Irwin is wonderful, as is the score from Howard Shore and production design of Carol Spier. A fantastic film from a uniquely gifted director.