The Fly (1986)

A brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

George Langelaan (short story), Charles Edward Pogue (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeff Goldblum	...	Seth Brundle
Geena Davis	...	Veronica Quaife
John Getz	...	Stathis Borans
Joy Boushel	...	Tawny
Leslie Carlson	...	Dr. Brent Cheevers (as Les Carlson)
George Chuvalo	...	Marky
Michael Copeman	...	2nd Man in Bar
David Cronenberg	...	Gynecologist
Carol Lazare	...	Nurse
Shawn Hewitt	...	Clerk

Storyline

Seth Brundle, a brilliant but eccentric scientist attempts to woo investigative journalist Veronica Quaife by offering her a scoop on his latest research in the field of matter transportation, which against all the expectations of the scientific establishment have proved successful. Up to a point. Brundle thinks he has ironed out the last problem when he successfully transports a living creature, but when he attempts to teleport himself a fly enters one of the transmission booths, and Brundle finds he is a changed man. This Science-Gone-Mad film is the source of the quotable quote "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

---

Plot Keywords:

psychotronic | cult film | scientist | eccentric scientist | experiment | 

---

Taglines:

Something went wrong in the lab today. Very wrong.

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA UK Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

La mouche

Filming Locations:

135 Liberty Steet, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$37,585,252 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

SLM Production Group, Brooksfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the makeup work and puppets used for the film are now located in Bob Burns' collection.

---

Goofs

When Veronica is playing the cassette tape of her recorded conversation with Brundel for her former boyfriend, the direction of the tape and the amount of tape left suggests that it just began from the beginning. However, the portion of the conversation that is being played is just before her tape recorder begins beeping, indicating that the tape is at the end and needs to be flipped over.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Seth Brundle: What am I working on? Uhh... I'm working on something that will change the world, and human life as we know it.

---

Crazy Credits

Jim Smash Issac Sir Guy of Hudson

---

Connections

Referenced in Contra: Hard Corps (1994)

---

Soundtracks

Help Me
Performed by Bryan Ferry
Written by Nile Rodgers, Bryan Ferry
Nile Rodgers and Bryan Ferry appear through the courtesy by Warner Bro. Records

User Reviews

A masterpiece aided by special effects

I think that this is a grossly underrated film - a noteworthy landmark in modern horror. I would expect nothing less than excellent from my favourite director Cronenberg, and this doesn't disappoint. Goldblum's performance is particularly good as the nervy scientist Brundle, but I think the main reason for the film's achievement is its structure - very subtle, very well made. Most of the action takes place in the last third of the picture, but there is a great suspense building up to that point. And the special effects are jaw-dropping - Brundle's hideous transformation is reminiscent of Lynch's 'The Elephant Man'. This film has a reputation for being unnecessarily gory, which is actually not at all true. It is a very intelligent picture, about love and other issues as much as horror, and a must-see for anyone.