THE FLY
US, 1986, 96 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
Directed by David Cronenburg.
The Fly is a remake and an update of the small 1958 classic, directed by Kurt Neumann. This time the film was co-written and directed by David Cronenberg. It is another in the list of Cronenberg's exploration of science, human nature and horror. His other films include Shivers, Rabid, The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, Dead Ringers.
The film is designed as an adult horror film, the writing is for adults rather than for adolescents, the style so popular in the 80s. However, the Oscar nominated special effects are so grim as to be almost grotesque and off-putting for many of the potential audience.
Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis work very well as the central couple and John Getz is sardonic as the editor. The screenplay has echoes of all the films about scientific experimentation, mad and obsessed doctors but also has a touch of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as the hero as infected by the fly and a different inner nature emerges.
The film is pessimistic in the end (like John Landis's An American Werewolf In London). Audiences are probably expecting some kind of reprieve - which does not come.
The special effects director on this film directed a sequel which is a remake of The Fly but focuses on Eric Stoltz as the son. This film also has some gruesome effects - but brings the cycle to a more optimistic conclusion.
1. Interesting piece of science fiction and horror? For an adult rather than adolescent audience? A contemporary fable about science?
2. The film's use of interiors: the laboratory, the apartment, the bar? The few outside sequences?
3. The importance of the special effects: for the monkey transported, for the fly, for Seth's deterioration and complete takeover? For Veronica's dream? For the destruction of Stathis's hand? The musical score?
4. The portrait of Seth Brundle: as a man, his lack of experience, as a scientist with complete dedication? His aims? Meeting Veronica, attracted, demonstrating the transportation with the stocking? Her taping him, his plea, the return to the editor's office, the cheeseburger? Offering her to observe and write a book? Their working together, the videotaping? The P4ece of meat, the transportation. the success with the monkey? The relationship between the two, falling in love? Seth coming out of himself? The magazine cover and Veronica leaving?, Seth drinking, jealous, deciding to go through, going through with the fly? The scratch on his back, the emerging hairs? His gymnastic activities, so much sugar in his coffee? A Mr Hyde emerging from his Dr Jekyll? Going out into the streets, the Arm-wrestling in the bar, the prostitute, bringing her home, the machine? H1s own realisation of the truth, the videos, not seeing Veronica for four weeks? Ringing her, pleading? His love for her? The horror of his deterioration and it pathos, keeping the parts? Becoming like an insect, feeling that he was more an insect who remembered being human? His being antiabortion and coming into the clinic? Destroying Stathis's hand? Wanting Veronica to go through the machine? His going through, the complete metamorphosis? The plea for the gun at his temple? His death? The pessimistic ending?
5. Veronica at the party, the journalist and her tapes, the experience with the stocking? The past relationship with Stathis, the apartment, his having a shower, demanding the key? The proposal about the book? Falling in love, sharing? Seth's back scratched? The tapes? Taking the cover to Stathis? The return, his gymnastics, the sugar? Her fears, going away? Her nightmare and the birth of the mutant baby? The phone call, going, showing the tapes to Stathis, the decision for the abortion, Seth taking her away, the dangers, the machine? Her reluctance to shoot but her finally killing him?
6. Stathis and his sardonic remarks, editor, the shower, the apartment, the relationship with Veronica, the decision about the article, the artwork, watching the videos, the horror, in the laboratory, the destruction of his hand, at the end?
7. Seth at the bar, the arm-wrestle, the prostitute and bringing her back?
8. The world of science, dreams, mistakes, disastrous effects? A fable about science?
9. The pessimistic tone of the film and the impact on audiences? A piece of intelligent science fiction - but the impact of the visuals and the climax?
