The Fly

1986 • 95 minutes

About this movie

In a remake of the 1958 cult classic, a young scientist transforms himself into a fly in an experiment gone horribly wrong. Seth Brundle, a brilliant but eccentric scientist attempts to woo investigative journalist Veronica Quaife by offering her a scoop on his latest research in the field of matter transportation, which against all the expectations of the scientific establishment have proved successful. Up to a point, Brundle thinks he has ironed out the last problem when he successfully transports a living creature, but when he attempts to teleport himself a fly enters one of the transmission booths, and Brundle finds he is a changed man.

Ratings and reviews

I was never a fan of the original Fly. I always thought it was campy and cheesy. But the David Cronenberg remake is a spectacular masterpiece. The film is a twisted marriage of science and flesh that Cronenberg embodies similar to the way he did with Videodrome. The Fly is great old school classic Cronenberg. And Jeff Goldblums darkly humored visceral performance really complements the tragic character he's playing. A disgusting dark cerebral blast. A great intelligent horror movie.

I can easily say this is one of the best horror movies that I have ever seen. It might not have been the scariest, but the story, acting, and messages it gives make it so wonderful. Its also the first horror film that has made me cry. The organic effects are amazing, and I think any horror fan should see this.

This film is usually billed as sci-fi, horror, or sci-fi horror, and it is these things; however, I have always been of the opinion that it is, in spirit, a tragedy. One of my favorite movies--not just in Cronenberg's catalog, but of all time--as sad as it is, the real tragedy would be for you not to watch it. 5 stars.