03/09/2026 Guest Movie Review: THE FLY (1986)
- Candace Nola
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Back with us for a movie review, author friend Sue Rovens shares her thoughts on THE FLY!
This is one of my favorite movies, as gross as it is, so let's see what Sue thought of it!
Enjoy!
Movie Review
The Fly (1986)
Reviewed By Sue Rovens
It might be old news, but Mel Brooks (of Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein fame, among others), not only produced this updated version of the 1958 film of the same name but came up with the tag line as well: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
While Mr. Brooks and David Cronenberg ended up having creative differences in the overall vision of the movie, the end result is a stunner. Body horror, psychological trauma, hand-wringing tension, and a heart-wrenching ending make this an unforgettable experience. If you haven’t seen this version and you consider yourself a horror fan, get thee to a screen and watch. If you’ve seen the original (I haven’t for a handful of reasons but am familiar with the story), the 1986 version stands heartily on its own.
Jeff Goldblum plays scientist Seth Brundle, a man determined to conquer teleportation by any means. His on-again off-again girlfriend, Veronica, played convincingly by Geena Davis, brings a very human and emotional side to this story. Her worry, concern, and anguish over what is happening in front of her eyes escalates this “simple” horror movie to something more than just a gory ride.
It’s no secret that the ultimate joining of human/insect DNA may start out a little gross and disturbing, but as the movie ramps up, the cohesive melding between Seth and Fly goes above and beyond the grotesque. As hard as Brundle tries to keep his girlfriend at a distance, she soon discovers his ghastly secret, including being witness to the physical changes that can no longer be kept under wraps. A dream sequence which Veronica endures solidifies the horrific nature of the entire situation.
Much of this film takes place in Brundle’s home/scientific lab. We are there as the minute changes become too extensive and impossible to ignore. As body parts continue to fall off (or evolve), we’re too invested to look away. It’s a toss-up between gruesome and devastation – how can a human live among society as we know it, yet function with such extreme mutations? What is the most humane response to an experiment gone wrong?
Highly recommended if you like: Body horror at its finest, man vs. insectoid, Jeff Goldblum and/or Geena Davis films, 80s horror.
Watch Here: