The Fly II (1989)

The almost-human son of "Brundlefly" searches for a cure to his mutated genes while being monitored by a nefarious corporation that wishes to continue his father's experiments.

Director:

Chris Walas

Writers:

Mick Garris (screenplay), Jim Wheat (screenplay)

Stars:

Eric Stoltz, Daphne Zuniga, Lee Richardson

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Stoltz	...	Martin Brundle
Daphne Zuniga	...	Beth Logan
Lee Richardson	...	Anton Bartok
John Getz	...	Stathis Borans
Frank C. Turner	...	Dr. Shepard (as Frank Turner)
Ann Marie Lee	...	Dr. Jainway
Garry Chalk	...	Scorby (as Gary Chalk)
Saffron Henderson	...	Veronica Quaife
Harley Cross	...	10 year old Martin
Matthew Moore	...	4 year old Martin
Rob Roy	...	Wiley
Andrew Rhodes	...	Hargis
Pat Bermel	...	Mackenzie
William S. Taylor	...	Dr. Trimble (as William Taylor)
Jerry Wasserman	...	Simms

Storyline

Seth Brundle was a renowned scientist whose warped experiments with teleportation transformed him into a man/fly hybrid called BrundleFly. A few months after the BrundleFly insect met its demise by his lover's, Veronica, shotgun, she dies while giving birth to their son, Martin. Seth's corrupt employer, Bartok, adopts Martin, only so Martin can solve the new problems that the still-functioning TelePods present and to use him as a science project because of the dormant insect genes. Martin is now fully grown, even though he is five, and the fly genes begin to awaken and make him just like dear, dead dad. With the help of his girlfriend, Beth, they go to wherever they can find a possible cure before Bartok finds them and brings them back, but not before Martin finishes his transformation into MartinFly, the deadliest of the BrundleFly species.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | teleportation | sex scene | motel | orphan | 

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Taglines:

Like father, like son.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Daphne Zuniga said she took the role of Beth Logan because she was attracted to the character's strength and her emotional commitment to her relationship with Martin Brundle.

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Goofs

When MartinFly throws Dr. Shepard's body, you can see a thick black string pulling it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Veronica Quaife (on videotape): Oh, my God! There's something wrong! I can feel it!

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Crazy Credits

In the end credits for The Fly (1986), CWI effects artist Guy Hudson used the pseudonym "Sir Guy of Hudson". For The Fly II (1989)'s credits, a "II" was added to the same pseudonym.

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Alternate Versions

A scene of Martin being heckled by children and vomiting corrosive enzymes on the windshield their car in response (during a stop for fast food on the way to Stathis Borans' home). The kids are little league players. They're terrified as the vomit creates a huge hole in the car. The little league coach angrily throws the food for the kids down in anger. This scene was filmed but deleted.

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Connections

Referenced in Post Mortem with Mick Garris: Frank Darabont (2010)

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Soundtracks

Lock, Stock and Teardrops
Written by Roger Miller
Performed by k.d. lang (as k. d. lang)
Courtesy of SIRE RECORDS
By Arrangement with WARNER SPECIAL PRODUCTS

User Reviews

I Enjoyed it - a Good B Horror Movie Reminiscent of Those From the Fifties...Perfect for a Friday Night!

"The Fly II"

As I write this review, I have never seen the remake of "The Fly" with Ian Malcolm - err, Jeff Goldblum - and Geena Davis. So I really have no basis to compare this sequel to. Therefore, I will continue with this review in light that I have not seen the original remake...

The film opens with a Geena Davis Lookalike giving birth to a son; she dies, the baby lives. Baby grows older, and because he is 1/4 fly, he grows at a rapid rate, for some reason. I'm not sure why this would make him bigger instead of smaller, but oh well. His name is Martin, and he turns into Eric Stoltz when he is five. Yes, you read that right. Five. Martin is looked over by the head of a company, where he is kept and given medication to keep him from turning into a fly...

But soon young Martin finds out that not everything is what it seems, and he begins to mutate into...THE LIZARD. Well, that's what he looks like, anyway.

As I watched this, I kept a careful eye on Eric Stoltz. Why? Well, as I'm sure everyone knows by now, he was originally cast for Marty McFly for "Back to the Future," and they filmed much of the movie with him before Bob Zemeckis dropped him for Fox. In fact, there is still a scene where he is diving into the Delorean that is intact. Freeze frame the film and you can see it's not Fox. I always thought that footage looked odd - like it wasn't Fox doing the stunt...

Anyway, I watched Stoltz and realized how bad he would have been as Marty McFly. He just isn't hyper enough - Michael J. Fox was perfect for Marty, Stoltz would have ruined it. He's not a bad actor, mind you. He's perfect for this role (well at least "good" for this role), but for Marty? Nah... On a side note, I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or bizarre in-joke, but Stoltz's character plays a kid named Martin...similar to Fox's character Marty McFly...Martin...Marty.... And, I thought of something else that I haven't seen someone point out before. Marty's last name in "BttF" is McFly. What does Martin turn into in this film? A FLY! Martin the Fly, Marty McFly...taking a quote from "Uncle Buck": "Is there a little similarity here? Ooh, I think there is!"

The film was directed by the creature effects artist of the original - and sequel: Chris Walas. You might recognize his name, because he wrote "Gremlins 2" and did the creature effects for "Gremlins," as well. Anyway, he directs the film pretty good for a creature effects artist...I guess...

What I like so much about this movie is its high campy quality. It is a hybrid of B horror movies from the fifties and sixties and the "new breed" of horror films in the eighties, that were like B horror movies with gore. Lots of gore. I guess it doesn't qualify as strictly campy, because the old horror movies were not so disgusting...so I just call these films the eighties B horror movies. Simple enough, eh?

I have always been a sucker for the campy horrors from the eighties, especially when they are sequels that tread into old territory. For example, in one scene we see footage of Jeff Goldblum being interviewed. Martin watches this with interest. And what I think is so interesting is that we can look back and say, "Oh, yes, that was before Goldblum knew he was turning into a fly." It's just interesting to do that. It seems like many films from the eighties would have archive footage from the original film. Anyway, "The Fly II" is a lot like these films. It gives us a glance back at the original. I'm not sure if I can explain in words what this does. It just provides a feeling for me - kind of like campy horrors make some people feel good. I like when horror movies--or any movies, for that matter--travel into the film before...we can look at the old characters and say, "Oh, yes, that was before this was going to happen..." It's just fun to do. I can't describe it in words.

This movie, like many horror sequels from the eighties, is just enjoyable. Odd, but enjoyable. It's hard not to have fun watching it. If you take it seriously you're going to have a pretty hard time watching, but if you turn off the brain for two hours you'll have some fun.

My only two complaints is that this movie is about a half hour too long, and the creature looks like a lizard and not a fly. Other than that, it is a fun ride. Not great, but a good, well done horror movie that never takes itself too seriously. Perfect for a Friday night.

3/5 stars -

John Ulmer

Details

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Fly 2

Filming Locations:

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,751,371, 12 February 1989

Gross USA:

$20,021,322

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,903,179

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brooksfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1