The Fly, 1986. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 14.

 

 Hello, and welcome to my Journey into Science Fiction Part 14. The Fly began life as a short story written by George Langelaan. It was first published in an issue of Playboy in 1957. However, it later went on to become one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy short stories of the year. In 1958, the story was first adapted for the big screen in a film directed and produced by Kurt Neumann and starring Vincent Price. The Fly made huge profits for Fox and became one of its biggest hits that year.

Fast forward to 1986, and David Cronenberg’s science fiction horror film was about to breathe life into the story yet again, taking it into an altogether new direction. I did watch The Fly on VHS as a child, but the film holds a specific memory for me that I will always cherish. I have to admit, it is only since I started this site that my love for David Cronberg’s movies has become more of an interest to me. I have decided that I’m going to look at his work more in-depth in the future and study his career a little more closely. I love artists who try to articulate the human condition through their art, and also deliver it in such a way that a person like me can just about understand its complexity. However, when I was a child, I was there for the transformation of Seth Brundle. I was amazed as I watched him realise his superpowers, laughed at him eating doughnuts in the best way possible, and was frightened as he eventually became a monster, without truly understanding what the movie was about. Today, it’s about the fear, the one we all share in life, love, and eventual death. Jeff Goldblum brought real humanity to his character, and his performance is a highlight of the movie. However, Cronenberg created a film that is a gruesome affair, which also delivers a positive message that completes the film. For me, it’s about the awkwardness of Seth Brundle, and how he was already a likeable character without knowing it. The message I take away from The Fly is to try and be happy with your place in life, and try to embrace the insecurities that might hold you back at times.

The story feels isolated and I’m not sure if that was budget-related, but it makes this film work for Cronenberg, as he uses the light perfectly in those confined locations. In many ways, it feels like a stage play, and dialogue has to carry the story until the real money-burning scenes come into action. Cronenberg seemed to be right at the top of his craft for this one, as the location, style and music created something spectacular and visually beautiful that still feels fresh today. It’s amazing how a character like Seth Brundle can make such an impact on popular culture, and I find it quite shocking Jeff Goldblum didn’t win an Oscar for this performance, or even get nominated.  Seth Brundle seems pretty charming, socially awkward and a genius, but there is something quite relatable about him. Okay, we all know he eventually turns into a monster, but the change in his character is somewhat different from the typical villain, and there is always a slither of hope. Seth Brundle’s transformation, after he enters the transporter, is somewhat similar to any superhero origin story. In hindsight, that must have been the attraction to the movie as a child.

However, that strength and power make him become a far more hateful and disliked character. Thinking about it,  why does he become so hateful? I guess love has something to answer for, as the relationship between him, Veronica Genna Davis, and Stathis John Getz becomes complicated. Seth is drinking and expecting the worst when he first enters the pod, and I can’t help but think he would have been better off on his own. That’s love for you, not to be cynical. As his body begins to transform into something more grotesque, Seth the scientist comes back. Not only does he view himself as the greatest experiment ever, but all his teeth begin to fall out, with many other body parts, turning his medicine cabinet into a museum. As we all should know already, Seth is killed at the end of this film, in an emotional way that’s reminiscent of one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies. I have heard that the film is a representation of the AIDS crisis in the eighties, and that isn’t something I remember too fondly.  Alternatively, this is a story about the complexities of relationships, and it is never as easy as people make it out to be.

I suppose the biggest theme to take away from the story is that we shouldn’t be pushing ourselves beyond the capabilities we are born with, as nature will always get in the way. Technology is part of the terror in this film because I remember the eighties, and it felt like I was witnessing the birth of the digital revolution, and I didn’t know what was coming next. The computers used in the film look primitive, but most of the electronic items in my household were housed in wood. Compared to today, it felt like you pretty much lived in a cave, and I miss that isolation and freedom. However, technology never stands still, and with artificial intelligence becoming a normality, there is a feeling of doubt within people and that’s to be expected. We are now living in a completely different world than the one in 1986, and this film represents that shift in time perfectly. The pods used for Brundle’s experiment are pretty iconic and still look remarkably futuristic today. I know, the film has its faults, but it only adds to its charm. If anything, this film reminds me of why the VHS days were such great moments in life, and I’m glad to revisit those memories.

So, where shall I go next on My  Journey into Science-Fiction Part 15? One name that deserves a mention is Chris Walas who won an Oscar for his special effects and make-up work on The Fly. Chris also worked on another film, Enemy Mine, in 1985. So, I hope to see you next time for this American science fiction classic.

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