The Terrifying Tale That Will Haunt Your Dreams Forever

The Fly is not only David Cronenberg's greatest achievement but also holds the title for the most heartbreaking horror film ever made. It is a blend of grotesque, romantic, and tragic elements that cannot be compared to any other. As famously quoted, "Be afraid, be very afraid." Initially, it may seem like a mere genre gimmick, a concept that has even been humorously portrayed in The Simpsons. However, when a man inadvertently enters a teleportation device with a fly by his side, a terrifying ordeal of body-horror unfolds.

Maybe its simplicity is the reason why The Fly remains Cronenberg's most successful film in terms of box office earnings, raking in over $60 million from a budget of only $9 million. It is not only filled with the trademark graphic and grotesque elements that define the director's body of work, but it is also considered a true masterpiece. Beware, spoilers ahead...

The Fly is the saddest horror movie of all time

The Fly, a film directed by Cronenberg, is a remake of the 1958 movie and is based on George Langelaan's 1957 short story. This particular film received an Oscar for its special effects, making it the only one of Cronenberg's films to achieve this distinction.

Riding on the sweeping and dramatic soundtrack by Howard Shore, the film captivates viewers with its mesmerizing visuals. In the same way as its namesake insect, Cronenberg's storytelling is lean and precise, immersing us immediately in the peculiar and electric sexual tension between Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum), an introverted yet charming scientist, and Ronnie Quaife (played by Geena Davis), a journalist for Particle magazine.

While Brundle is confident that he has created something that will revolutionize the world, Quaife remains skeptical until she witnesses the tele-pods in action firsthand, using her stocking as a demonstration. Together, they embark on a mission to document the groundbreaking technology that will render traditional transportation, time, and space concepts obsolete. However, their progress is closely observed by Stathis Borans (played by John Getz), Ronnie's untrustworthy ex-partner and editor.

It all goes wrong for Ronnie when she has to stop one of Stathis’ threats just as she’s about to celebrate the successful live teleportation of a baboon with Seth. Holding a bottle of champagne, filled with love and jealousy, he falls into a deep hole – and enters a pod, unknowingly undergoing a transformation with a fly and accidentally merging with it at a molecular level. This marks the beginning of Brundlefly.

20th Century Studios

There is a wicked delight in Cronenberg's actions: Ronnie observing Seth's late-night, sweaty acrobatics with amazement; their spiritual bond akin to Clarence in True Romance with sugar; a notorious scene where Seth breaks a man's wrist while arm-wrestling for a bet (followed by a night with a random woman); and Seth confessing his ability to "sculpt bodies" similar to Patrick Bateman's penchant for "murders and executions mostly."

The depths of the plasma pool only grow darker: an insatiable sexual appetite; unpredictable and irritable mood swings; hypersensitivity to touch; coarse hair; and soon, grotesque changes to his physique, such as brittle nails, oozing pus, peeling ears, tooth loss, and acid-induced vomiting to consume food. "Well, that's repulsive."

The director's skillful storytelling and profound understanding of character development add a poignant touch to the morbid curiosity that makes this film so captivating. Seth's understated brilliance and genuine sorrow after the tragic demise of an inside-out baboon, as he quietly ponders, "Is this the beginning of the end? Am I facing death?" only deepens the sense of sadness. However, it is in the film's climactic act that Goldblum delivers an emotionally devastating monologue that truly tugs at the heartstrings.

The Fly is a doomed love story

"You must depart immediately and never return to this place. Are you familiar with the concept of insect politics? I am not. Such politics do not exist among insects. They are exceedingly ruthless, lacking any compassion or inclination for compromise. Insects cannot be trusted. As much as I would aspire to become the first politician of the insect world, I am apprehensive. You see, I would like to pursue this ambition, but I am afraid... I am confessing... I am an insect that once dreamed of being a human and cherished it. However, now that the dream has ended, the insect has awakened. I am revealing... if you choose to remain, I will cause you harm."

The Fly is essentially a tragic love story. Seth and Ronnie have a believable connection and an undeniable chemistry. However, his success ultimately leads to his downfall, as he succumbs to a wave of emotions that we can all relate to. It's that moment when we make reckless choices like ordering another drink, sending a text we shouldn't, or making a wrong call. In Seth's case, he becomes lost in his own brilliance.

As Shore's score reverberates and Brundlefly's horrifying final form approaches a tearful Ronnie, who is armed with a gun she can't bring herself to use, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold back tears. Then, he grabs the gun with his bloodied limb and points it towards his own head. Despite enduring unimaginable suffering and becoming unrecognizable to himself and the world through numerous teleportations, he clings onto his last shred of humanity and pleads for one thing: "End my life."

Aside from its bleak and immediate ending, the despair of The Fly goes beyond its affecting love story. Similar to Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning film The Father or M. Night Shyamalan's Old, there is a rawness in the horror of losing oneself to illness, even if it means transforming into an insect.

Ronnie tightly holds onto Seth's spirit as he tries to find positivity in the process of transformation, even amidst decay. "Most people would give anything to undergo a change," he remarks. This fear possesses a universal essence, as we are unable to escape it; whether we age or lose our mental faculties, we must depend on the kindness of our loved ones, even when we are incapable of reciprocating love.

Upon its release, Cronenberg was taken aback to discover that the film was being interpreted as a metaphor for AIDS. "If you or your loved one is affected by AIDS, watching this film will naturally evoke associations with the disease. However, one does not need personal experience with it to have a deep emotional response to the movie, and I believe that is its true strength," he explained.

The impact of AIDS on everyone cannot be underestimated, and it is understandable that people would associate it with my movie. However, I believe that the story of "The Fly" resonates on a broader level, touching upon universal themes of aging and death that we all must face. Sorrow is a common element in horror films, with movies like "The Others," "The Orphanage," "Hereditary," and especially "The Mist" serving as prime examples. Yet, "The Fly" stands out as the most seamless and sneaky, delivering a visceral experience that leaves a lasting impression.

The Fly can now be streamed on Max. It is also available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime. Additionally, you can explore our other Halloween coverage below:

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