The Fly

This is one of the greatest horror films of the 1980’s, and one of the films that proves that not all remakes are bad. In fact, it’s kind of shocking to realize that this is a remake, considering it’s similarities with the original are so few. Seth Brundle is a shy, antisocial scientist who peaks the interest of a reporter, Veronica (played by a very beautiful Geena Davis). After finding more about him, he reveals that he’s working on a teleportation machine, but that his experiments with flesh are not exactly going right. One night, in a drunken state, he goes through the telepods, only to be fused genetically with a fly that turns him slowly, but surely, into a creature that has never existed before. The cheese elements of the original, which is by the way, very entertaining, are nowhere to be found. The film takes itself very seriously. No scientist with a fly’s head, no tiny fly with a white head to look for, and no Vincent Price. Instead, what makes the film work is the acting and relationship between Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, who were actually in love during the film’s production. It’s so believable that they even made me feel for the fly’s last stage, when he was mixed in with the pod. You know it’s a damn puppet, but you’re so absorbed with the story that you end up giving a shit about it. And speaking of puppets, the special effects in this film are incredible, done by Chris Walas. His effects are watchable, but they work within the context of the story. By the way, this film does for childbirth what Psycho did for showers, so don’t miss that awesome scene.