By Chris Snellgrove | Published
It would be hard to find a horror movie remake…at all an example as good as this one The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and Evil Dead (2013), there is a strong smell like this Psycho (1998) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). However, it’s hard to blame the filmmakers for trying, because some of the best movies in Hollywood history are episodes of yesterday’s horror hits.
For example, David Cronenberg made a remake in 1986 A fly (starring a young Jeff Goldblum in his prime) is a body horror film that’s more scary and racy now than ever.
You’ll Believe A Man Can Be a Fly
The foundation of A fly that an attractive young scientist introduces a handsome journalist to his latest invention: special telepods that allow the transmission of matter in Star Trek style from one place to another. Sooner than you can say, “wake me up, honey,” this beautiful researcher teleports herself, not knowing that a little housefly has entered the hole with her.
After that, our lead character begins a terrifying physical transformation. A change that threatens to destroy his career, his relationship, and even his life.
The cast of A fly its greatest strength, to begin with Jurassic Park icon Jeff Goldblum as a mad scientist whose evil ambitions spawn a shocking mutation that completely destroys his life. Geena Davis (better known as Thelma & Louise) plays a science journalist who falls in love with our leading man before being forced to watch him become more and less human.
Together, they made the best couple of the ’80s. The warm glow of their on-screen romance gives the dark contrast (in more ways than one) to Cronenberg’s film a beating heart.
A Lesson in Screen Chemistry
While we get a fun supporting performance from John Getz (well known Social Network), the main appeal of A fly the terrific chemistry between Goldblum and Davis: they’re believable as a hot couple caught up in new love, and the inevitable breakdown of their relationship gives this movie its sad, jagged edge. Goldblum, in particular, does a great job of using his natural strengths to make his character’s kind of mad scientist appealing. Like Davis’ character, it’s easy to get swept up in the glittering, looming glory, and your heart breaks next to it when everything (especially Goldblum’s face) starts to fall apart.
Horror remakes are always a dicey proposition, though A fly it was a huge success, earning $60.6 million against an estimated budget of $15 million. This was enough crazy (scientific) money to warrant a sequel, though The fly II was a disappointment: none of the leading actors returned, and the follow-up film was not directed by David Cronenberg. The franchise has remained dormant since the ’80s, though there have been a number of canceled projects, including an ambitious Cronenberg sequel that sadly passed the studio.
Being Obnoxious Wins Fly Awards
While A fly is one of the worst movies ever made, professional reviewers have called this David Cronenberg masterpiece an instant classic. It has a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the film for pairing the director’s sharp horror sensibilities with strong central characters. This turned what could have been a monster mash into a disaster as effectively as post-modern.
That’s one sure sign A fly it’s a great film to have won major awards despite being part of the often overlooked and neglected horror genre. For example, it took home three Saturn Awards: the award for Best Actor for Jeff Goldblum, Best Horror Film, and Best Makeup.
Cronenberg’s gross out opus also received an Academy Award for Best Makeup, which was well deserved. If you haven’t watched it A fly Since the days of VHS, you might be surprised at how much detail you can clean up when streaming a movie in high definition.
Scarier Than Ever
As a child, I was very scared A flyand those special side effects were the main reason why. It’s one thing to see a scary monster like Freddie Krueger or Jason Voorhees, but it’s another thing to watch a talented man slowly turn into something evil because of his scientific hubris. At a very young age, Cronenberg’s glorious body horror taught me an important lesson: nothing those villains can do is any more scary or dangerous than we can do ourselves.
Watching the movie now, I find Jeff Goldblum’s character sympathetic and compelling. Who among us wouldn’t try to pioneer Star Trek technology if we had the brains and resources?
He is at the forefront of a process that could transform society from the ground up, but he is also a stubborn rebel whose willingness to cut corners and undermine rules is his greatest strength and most crippling weakness. Worst of all, he can’t see how well he’s planning his own road to hell because he’s too busy trying to please Genna Davis, who makes him talkative from the beginning of the film to the end.
You will admit that A fly scarier than ever, or would you rather jump on the telepod and fly than watch it to the end? You won’t know until you walk over to the remote (sorry, the teleporter is offline right now) and stream it to Hulu. Come for the sexy chemistry between Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis; live the cinematic transformation from man to monster that will make it perfect trouble to you until your last days.
