HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 22: THE FLY (1986)

The 1980's gave us so many horror films, many of them were bad and or forgotten, but also so many gems and essential films of the genre. Again let me just state that remaking older films is nothing new and has been done since the early days of film. I only bring that up because out of all the remakes in cinema history there are few that actually transcend the original. This film is one of them, perhaps one of the greatest horror films to come out of the 80's: David Cronenberg's THE FLY.

Inventor Seth Brundle is man who has a severe case of motion sickness. It is a sickness which has shaped his life and directed his mind toward amazing things. Something that could change the world: Teleportation. Seth works tirelessly to perfect his machine: two pods linked by a computer which breaks down whatever object is in inside the pod at a molecular level and reassemble it in the other pod.

After a successful test with a baboon, the world's first living teleporter, Seth celebrated with a little champagne. Drunk and in a mood, Seth impulsively decides to teleport himself. He sets the process in motion, climbs into the pod, and watches the pod door seal shut. He doesn't notice the tiny house fly on the inside wall of the pod with him. He appears in the other pod seemingly unharmed. The house fly is nowhere to be found.

Seth's body changes. His physical dexterity, strength, and stamina increase exponentially. His sugar intake skyrockets. His attention shifts from one thing to the next, unable to focus. And little coarse black hairs begin sprouting out his back. Little by little the changes continue. Seth realizes what happened, he and the fly have fused on a molecular level. His identity is lost and he starts referring to himself as Brundle-Fly, a new entity. Body parts fall off. Skin peals up until he is no longer recognizable as human nor insect.

Not only is this a well written and well conceived film but it is a spectacle to behold. It won the academy award for best make-up effects (1986) and even years after there was a show at Universal Studios Florida showcasing the amazing make-up effects, a show I was lucky enough to see way back when in 1991. The acting too is just as amazing as the effects. Jeff Goldblum's performance is Oscar worthy.

This is one of this classic films that you have to see to believe much like John Carpenter's The Thing. It is one of the pillars of the horror genre. Check it.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10