Review #4 - The Fly (1986)

How does Brundlefly eat?

Total Score: 23/23

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This film is so horrid. The FX are stomach-churning, and the top-tier acting make this body-horror a pretty visceral watch. The story is compelling off the bat, with slightly creepy but nevertheless pretty charming Seth Brundle leading both us and a curious journalist into a horrific spiral of terror and misery. His mental and physical transformation into Brundlefly is horrendous, as he pukes and putrifies his way into monstrosity. His sloughed-off body parts play as much a role as he does in setting the tone. When you think it can’t get worse, and the (stunning) Geena Davis is at risk of forced-splicing, her only hope of saviour scrabbling around in a pool of melting meat, it gets worse. Brundle-Telepod is pitiful, heartwrenching, and completely fucking disgusting. When it is blown apart, you experience a sickening, Shakespearean catharsis.

Concept Art by Stephan Dupuis

The dream sequence mid-film might be one of the most affecting and disturbing scenes I’ve ever watched. It explores the other side of body horror to Seth - who is turning into something unrecognisable - delving into the grotesque horror of having your body be host to a parasite.

Cronenberg is utterly brilliant, as is Howard Shore, who scores the film (See this excellent article about him by the fascinating @Rebekah King).

Another stand out scene is the vomiting video. God, that is rough going. The psychological turmoil that plays out on screen really eats away at viewers, and gives the film a strong thematic depth.

I won’t talk too much about the various interpretations and ideas surrounding this film, as I’ve seen countless others explore this topic far better than I could, but I will say that allegorically, this film is extremely well done.

My first ever viewing was a double bill with Drifting Home (2022) - a PG anime film - as a palate cleanser, which, to anyone who’s seen it, should speak volumes about the traumatic nature of The Fly (1986).

To round out this review I’ll point out that on numbers alone, this is my top-scoring horror movie (so far), and also my sisters - who is my horror partner in crime. High praise, so clearly 18-year old me was impressed - and I still am. Let me know what your top five horror movies are in the comments!

As ever, thanks for reading,

Until next time,

H.E.

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