The Fly is a story about a scientist working on ground breaking technology. In an experiment gone wrong, the scientist unknowingly splices his DNA with that of a fly. The movie is a horrifying representation of losing ourselves and falling apart. I'm going to watch the version from 1986 with Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis because it's the one I've heard the most about. I'm not sure how I'll feel about this one, but I'm pretty sure I'll be cringing if he pulls a fingernail off. I think he loses an ear at some point, but I could be wrong. I'm not expecting to feel warm and fuzzy from this movie. It's one that's going to force me to examine health and science in a different perspective. We take our health for granted, so seeing someone completely deteriorate in front of me is going to help me appreciate my good health for at least a few days after this. Until my body reminds me that I'm nearly 40 now. Lol. I'm sure it will also make it obvious how much we push science to do more. In the words of Ian Malcom (another Jeff Goldblum character, how ironic), "...your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." We have definitely reached an era where science keeps pushing further to see what CAN be done that they never bother to think about what would happen if they actually succeeded. Hence why the story of Frankenstein is so important, although the lesson seems to be forgotten in the science world. I'm curious to see how this plays out, so it's time to watch the movie!
Holy hell. I knew there would be body horror in this movie, but I wasn't really expecting the level of emotional torment there was in this film. I went in knowing the story, but it got so much deeper than just having the body convert to a fly-like existence. I especially loved the line, "I'm saying I was an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it! But now the dream is over and the insect is awake." That hit on such a deep level that I wasn't expecting. Knowing that the body started showing signs of insect DNA is one thing, but that line really makes you understand that the logic of a fly also was incorporating itself into the man. When you really think about it, on a DNA level, which instincts would win out? We humans like to think of ourselves at the top of the food chain, but is our drive to survive stronger than that of another creature? Flies are driven to live hard and fast because their lives are so short. It's basic drives are all it would think about. Feed, procreate. That's about it. You see bits of it peek through after his first trip through the telepod, but it's not until he's progressing that you really see it kick in. Once he's found out that there's an offspring to carry on his line, his desire to protect his progeny kicks into overdrive and he even goes so far as to kidnap Veronica from the abortion clinic when she decides that she doesn't want to risk bringing an unknown creation into this world. He then takes his level of crazy on a whole new level. He wants to run both of them through the telepod so he can increase his human genes to make him less insect again, calling them the "ultimate family." I felt it was more for the selfish reasons of the fly loving being human more than being an insect, as opposed to being about familial closeness.
The special effects crew really did a wonderful job on this film. From the early stages where there was just subtle blotchiness on his skin to watching his nail get pulled off (for which I enacted "chick vision" because I couldn't watch the entirety of that scene), to the extreme changes once he was falling apart into full insect mode. The corrosive fluid he would regurgitate looked perfectly gross and the effect of an acid liquifying anything it touched was spot on with what I would expect to see. And his response when you first see it is priceless. "Oh, that's gross." I lost it. I love when they throw humor into horror movies to keep it from being overwhelmingly dark. This movie definitely had a great balance of humor, drama and horror that makes it stand out and linger in the mind of the viewer because it becomes more real to you. And with every change you see on Goldblum's face, you feel even more sad for what he's losing. Geena Davis' acting really sells you on the pain and loss she goes through during his transition, too. She makes it feel even more horrifying with each new change he faces. It's the train wreck you know you shouldn't look at, but you can't help yourself. He's falling apart, slowly losing his humanity, but you're utterly fascinated by it.
I feel like I had originally thought I "knew" how this movie went, so I didn't need to actually watch it since it was a pretty simple concept. After watching this movie, though, I have no idea why I could have thought there wasn't a need to watch it because of the basic plotline. This movie had a lot of depth and really makes you scrutinize the desire for scientific advancement. You also learn that drinking while conducting scientific break-throughs while using cutting edge technology is a terrible idea. When you have no idea what the result is gonna be, or the side effects for that matter, you definitely shouldn't attempt in on yourself. And can I just say that I was quite disturbed that, in his first attempt to show Veronica what the telepod does, he decides to use a baboon? Seriously? You know you haven't figured out the solution to your problem, but you throw a medium sized monkey into the telepod and just hope for the best?! Why wasn't he testing on mice first? A species that wasn't at risk from environmental hazards? And why would he use a monkey before perfecting it on a smaller creature? Granted, in the 80s when this was filmed, baboon populations weren't as bad as they are now, but that doesn't make it any less terrible. And seeing a baboon turned inside out definitely is a bit too intense for just trial runs until the system is perfected. He even knew the system wasn't perfected when he started it up to show her! Why would you show a potential love interest an experiment which has undesirable results? He could have transported a stapler and it would have been just as exciting to her, but less gruesome. But, no! Not Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum). He's gotta go big or go home, so he just goes all in with the primate.
I also have to address the fact that John Getz was in this film as the sleazy business executive. I know him best from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead and he's also a sleazy exec in that, too. My mind kept merging the two characters together because they were so similar! At least he has some redeeming qualities in this film, though. He actually stuck by her side through the trauma, got her help when she wanted it and tried to protect her from what Brundle had become when he lost his human reasoning. It was also pretty intense to see him get his hand and foot dissolved into nothingness. Also, his response of shock was spot on with an injury of that magnitude. I felt he played the part incredibly well of a sleazy guy who starts to actually think outside of himself for a change and I really enjoyed his growth. Helps me to think of him as something other than "sleazy business exec." Lol.
In the final scene of this film, you see the true scope of the takeover that has happened to Brundle. His rationality is no longer that of a human. He's crazed and intent on using the machine for his own personal gain. Through some crazy circumstances, including John Getz's heroic actions, Brundlefly is fused with some of the telepod itself and crawls out with metal parts infused into his body. It's such a sad sight that even Veronica can't bear to see him brought so low. She had the shotgun poised to fire, but couldn't do it. Then, in a slow and torturous movement, Brundlefly places the shotgun against his head, silently begging to be put out of his misery. It's such a heart wrenching scene that I couldn't help but cry. It got me good and I never saw it coming. The movie leaves itself wide open for a sequel with the fact that Veronica is still pregnant, but now her decision might be colored by the fact that it really is the only thing left of Seth, the man. I know there was a sequel, so she decides to keep it, but that wasn't for a few more years after this one released. It could be interesting, but it's not one I'm gonna rush to watch. This movie is perfection and I worry that the sequel will just be another sad attempt at getting more money out of a film without proper consideration of a solid plot. Maybe some day, but not soon. I have plenty of other movies on the list before I'll worry about that one.
Since I'm a bit behind on posting this, I'm going to do a double feature this weekend. I have two iconic horror films that must be watched and I intend to get them done together. So stay tuned for my next post about Friday the 13th and Halloween! You can find Friday the 13th streaming on Peacock for free and on HBOMax with a subscription. Halloween can be found on AMC+ or Shudder.
For more movie love, check out my other blog, "You're Watching That Again?!"
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