The Fly (1958) **1/2 and The Fly (1986) ****1/2

I first saw David Cronenberg's remake of “The Fly” when it came out, in 1986. I thought it was pretty great back then, but then, I thought every movie was great then. I was curious how it had aged, and the answer is, “pretty damn well!” I also wondered how it compared to the sci-fi/horror original from 1958, so I watched them back-to-back. 

 

 

The original film, by producer/director Kurt Neumann was based on George Langelaan's short story, which Neumann reportedly discovered in Playboy magazine. (See? Some people DO read the articles!) It tells the story of scientist Andre Delambre (David Hedison), who develops a transportation device. When he attempts to transport himself, a fly gets into the transporter with him, leading to horrible malformations for both of them. Patricia Owens plays Delambre's June-Cleaver-esque wife, Helene, and Vincent Price plays his brother, Francois.

While Neumann elevates “The Fly” above the usual level of B-movies, it is still very much the kind of movie you would have seen at the drive-in, back when that was a thing. The film is very of its time, with its Cold War/Nuclear era theme of science gone wrong, not to mention being a po-faced, back-to-church cautionary tale about what happens when man trespasses on God's territory. The film also has whiplash-inducing changes in tone, going from moments of horror and suspense to scenes that look and sound like an episode of “Leave it to Beaver.” Maybe these clashes were intentional, meant to emphasize the possibility of disaster underlying First World prosperity and domestic bliss. The acting is generally better than B-movie level, and while Patricia Owens never really escaped B-movies, David Hedison went on to a successful film career, including playing CIA agent Felix Leiter in a couple of Bond movies.

I would say the film's best touch is its reversal of chronology. The story starts with Andre's death, with his wife being accused of his murder. This leaves the audience doubly in suspense: wondering how Andre's accident occurred and also what will happen to poor Helene. Neumann also shows restraint with his special effects for most of the film, keeping Andre/Fly covered up most of the time. Unfortunately, that restraint goes off the rails in the film's next-to-last scene. The human-headed fly trapped in a spider's web, with that tiny voice screaming “Help me!” ends the film on such a ridiculous note that it undermines the suspense and horror.

 

 

While the original “The Fly” is a classic in a B-movie kind of way, David Cronenberg's 1986 remake is a true classic. He kept the idea of a teleporter accident, but it is otherwise a very different story. Jeff Goldblum plays scientist Seth Brundle. He meets journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) and invites her to document his work on teleportation. Same as in the first movie, a fly gets into the teleporter with the scientist, only in this case the merger happens on a genetic level, and Brundle's transformation is gradual.

Making the process gradual allows Cronenberg's film to be a much more effective body-horror tale. Most of us have had nightmares of losing our teeth or hair, so watching the process unfold on Brundle hits close to home. In fact, while many in 1986 understandably saw the film as an AIDS metaphor, Cronenberg has said that he intended it as a more universal allegory of disease in general, or even just the aging process. However you interpret it, the film is an outstanding horror movie that transcends its genre, thanks in part to excellent performances by its 2 stars. Be afraid. Be very afraid!

The Fly (1958) – 2.5 stars out of 5

The Fly (1986) – 4.5 stars out of 5