Overall Rating
  Awesome: 62.92%
Worth A Look: 20.22%
Average: 5.62%
Pretty Bad: 4.49%
Total Crap: 6.74%
2 reviews, 77 user ratings
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| Fly, The (1986) |
by Scott Weinberg
"Dark, disturbing and just plain gory, easily Cronenberg's best."
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Remade (in theme only, apparently) from the 1958 classic (although it's pretty darn silly) by Canada's most joylessly visual and just plain bloody director, David Cronenberg, this is a shocking and moving horror film. Using only three characters, this one is equal parts of gruesome mayhem, touching tragedy, man vs. nature parable, and a non-too subtle allegory for human frailty in the face of disease.This movie will humble you. Some of the more graphic special effects are so over the top, many of the weak-stomached set won't make it through the first half. Many of the familiar 'don't screw with Mother Nature' themes are explored, yet here they aren't beaten into your head. It's directed with a sure hand, and there's not a wasted scene in the movie.
Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum, quite great here) is a scientist who can't stand driving in cars and lives alone in this big creepy loft. Seems he's creating these 'telepods' that will teleport matter from point A to point B (once he gets all the bugs out, of course.) He shows reporter Ronnie (Geena Davis, looking like an attractive foal) all his hardware. She is rather skeptical, but they soon get nude together, and...BOOM...she's writing a novel about his skills. Our villain is her editor, Stathis, which is an interesting name in that I've have never heard it before or since I saw this movie. John Getz plays this character with equal parts slime and malice, yet he seems to be the most realistic character on display here.
In a fit of childish jealousy, Seth gets liquored up and decides to take the telepods for a dry run. Too bad he didn't invest in some Raid, because the pesky title insect gets into pod two, and well...things get icky. Seth grows strange hairs and bumps, body parts start falling off (look carefully when he opens the medicine cabinet), and his personality begins to get a little less charming. Add to the stress that Ronnie may now be pregnant, and we have the potential for a true gorefest.
For something this potentially silly to work, the actors need to play it completely straight. This is a somber, serious horror film. By the second half of this movie, all suspension of disbelief is pretty much in Cronenberg's hands. You accept all of it, thanks to the humanity and authentic touch of this skilled director and actors. Pity and fear mix with revulsion as we see what Seth is becoming. It's difficult to take, but it's as hard not to watch. A brilliant horror movie.Shocking, tragic, fascinating and exciting, this is a remake that easily outdoes it's predecessor. Stark and realistic, a depiction of sympathetic characters in a horrifying scenario. Offers several standout scenes with a satisfying conclusion. Should be taken with valium.
link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=936&reviewer=128
originally posted: 10/21/99 07:55:28
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USA
15-Aug-1986 (R)
DVD: 04-Oct-2005
UK
N/A
Australia
02-Feb-1987
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