The Fly (dir. David Cronenberg, 1986) — Review

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Proving itself an exception to the commonly held belief that all remakes are inferior, The Fly offers a tight 96 minutes of vomit-soaked bedlam, as Jeff Goldblum inadvertently mutates himself into an ill-tempered insect. Whether pondered as a disease allegory, or a stern warning against scientific hubris, The Fly works just as well for those sick puppies who want to see a bloke’s hand dissolve in acidic fly puke.

The film takes inspiration from the 1958 original starring Vincent Price (and in turn, George Langelaan’s short story). But rather than remaking it, Cronenberg’s version quickly diverges from its source material in everything beyond basic premise.

Ronnie (Geena Davis), a journalist for a scientific magazine, investigates the work of reclusive scientist Seth Brundle (Goldblum). Brundle, working on teleportation, has proven success transporting inanimate objects. But the results of his experiments with living creatures prove disappointing – ranging from the bloody, screaming mess of a turned-inside-out baboon, to a subpar breakfast omelette.

As Ronnie and Brundle embark on a romantic relationship, Brundle volunteers as his own guinea pig. But when he fails to notice a stowaway housefly inside the teleportation device, he accidentally splices himself with it at a molecular level. Fly life seems great at first, as Brundle develops superhuman strength, increased virility and an impressive gymnastics routine. But before long he’s eating too much sugar, constantly jonesing for sex, and watching his body fall apart like cheap cake. Meanwhile, Ronnie wrestles with an eternal dilemma: at what stage of insect metamorphosis is it acceptable to leave your partner?

Although Goldblum turns in a terrific performance as the twitchy, oddball Brundle and Davis impresses us no less in the subtler, more grounded reality of Ronnie, the real star of the show – and the reason The Fly remains so memorable – is Chris Walas’ and Stephan Dupuis’ Oscar-winning makeup effects. All of their gloopy, feculent imagination shines on screen as Brundle’s confluence with the fly causes his body to degenerate in a succession of disgustingly enjoyable set pieces. All told, Cronenberg’s delirious blend of gore and science fiction makes it a rightful horror classic.