Unit Title: Anatomy (RCGA1002) Film Review 2: The Fly (1986, Director David Cronenberg)

David Cronenberg combines his trademark affinity for gore and horror with strongly developed characters, making The Fly a surprisingly effective tragedy. U. Reviewer (date unknown)

David Cronenbergs remake of the 1958 horror classic The Fly is not for the squeamish. Casting Jeff Goldblum was a good choice as he brings a quirky, common touch to the spacey scientist role. Corliss R., (date unknown). The movie starts in bright, effervescent style. A collection of bright minds gather at a social event. Unassuming, but as always with David Cronenberg it is laced with menace.

As with the 1958 original Cronenberg follows the most effective tool of the horror director, recognition and exploitation of current social trends and fears. Interestingly both films were produced at times of economic boom following respective conflicts of their age (WWII and Vietnam) but while Kurt Neumanns original feeds from the lapses in personal, family

Unit Title: Anatomy (RCGA1002) Film Review 2: The Fly (1986, Director David Cronenberg)

values to the emergence of the threat of communism Cronenbergs work was born from another time.

In 1986 people were aware that a disease was killing, men and women in the United States and starting to notice similar trends throughout the globe. The gay communities of New York and San Francisco in particular were aware of a proliferation of sickness and death. It is perhaps for this reason that Cronenberg chose a very New York like backdrop concentrating on disused industrial vistas to build tension, expediting the link between sex and disaster. A common theme in most horror.

Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is awkward as a man from the get go, and from his own admission is more visionary than scientist with the ability to outsource the manufacture of his experimental equipment to greater minds and assemble his vision in isolation. When we first see his apartment we notice few of the trappings of modern life, just a piano and a bed are really all the evidence of his humanity we are proffered. Situated in the room are the three tele-pods which bring about his demise. The appearance of the machinery is of a far more organic nature than those of the original, appearing almost cocoon like in the gloom.

Without needing to ease the audience into the plot (the beauty of sequels) Cronenberg kicks things off quickly allowing the bumbling and slightly nauseous Goldblum to entice the ambitious, curious and undeniably beautiful Geena Davis into removing a single stocking so he could demonstrate the fruits of his labour. Note how the removal of such a delicate yet sensual item starts the ensuing mayhem. In fact this seems to be an ongoing theme as it is a pang of jealousy that causes Brundle (Goldblum) to step into the tele-pod.

Unit Title: Anatomy (RCGA1002) Film Review 2: The Fly (1986, Director David Cronenberg)

It is useful to know that Brundle didnt risk his own hide first, choosing instead a pair of Baboons, the first of which was sadly inverted due to the computer programs lack of appreciation for the subtleties of steak.

After a successful teleport Baboon is well and scientist is hopeful. It is then that life intervenes. After celebrating the successful transport of his monkey friend Brundle suffers a sleight which motivates him into taking phase two, that being his transport into history...

...and this is where the story really starts.

Inevitably we have our hands held through the scenes that lead to the fly entering the telepod. Tension builds as the steam clears from the chamber and a perfectly formed Jeff Goldblum emerges.

What the scientist finds is that he feels supreme, better than he did before, better than human in fact. Physically, mentally he feels so energised that he surmises that he has improved on the work of God.

When Davis, horrified by the news refuses to take the journey herself Goldblums rage at her closed mindedness and fear results in a parting of ways. For now.

What results is a complete metamorphosis. Goldblums body, mind and psyche alter at a frightening rate. Superior physical strength and stamina give way to biological degradation and exhaustion. The mind of the scientist before remains however. In a series of chilling scenes he takes great interest in the failings of his body even cataloguing them, horrifying Davis at a later date.
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Unit Title: Anatomy (RCGA1002) Film Review 2: The Fly (1986, Director David Cronenberg)

A horror that is compounded because the audience, and Davis, know that she is pregnant.

Davis heart softens when she sees the dilapidated Goldblum, torn by the knowledge of their child and is present through his rotting, wall-crawling and vomiting metamorphoses.

The conclusion to the film is rapid and brutal. Davis (after a harrowing nightmare where Cronenberg has her give birth to what can only be described as a massive pupae) simply cannot continue with the pregnancy. With the support of former boss and lover she arranges the procedure post haste, only to be kidnapped by Goldblums now fully changed form.

He is pursued back to his loft by Davis former beau. Only after arming himself with a shotgun.

Arriving just in time to have Goldblum seriously injure him and try to repair his unnatural form by splicing them together.

Geena Davis intervention leads to a very moving scene. Brundlefly, displaying a shred of his former humanity holds the barrel of the shotgun to its head. Davis in a final loving act pulls the trigger.

In my opinion Variety are correct when they write, Cronenbergs most conventional film prior to A History OF Violence. The Fly is among the finest of his American movies. Staff V., (date unknown). While entertaining, and in many places oddly engaging, his style, at

Unit Title: Anatomy (RCGA1002) Film Review 2: The Fly (1986, Director David Cronenberg)

times, sees him shocking for the sake of it. Whereas the horrors seen in this film are absolutely pertinent, no doubt increasing their impact on the audience.

Critical Bibliography Unknown Reviewer, (date unknown). source unknown, rottentomatoes.com Corliss R., (date unknown). TIME Magazine, rottentomatoes.com Staff V., (date unknown). Variety Magazine, rottentomatoes.com Images Poster Image: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007602-y/