It is one of the few films that are represented in two all-time best lists on FILMSTARTS. On Disney+ you can currently see “The Fly”, not only one of the best horror films, but also one of the best sci-fi films.
The 80s once proved to be particularly fertile ground for filmmakers to show the world that, contrary to popular belief, remakes can be better than their originals. Between John Carpenter’s “The Thing from Another World” (1982) and “The Blob” (1988), cult director David Cronenberg also managed to do this in 1986: With “The Fly”, the master of body horror known for gritty sci-fi horror like “Scanners” and “Videodrome” delivered what many consider his absolute masterpiece – which not only won an Oscar, but is still one of the great cult classics for us today that every genre fan should have seen.
After all, the teleportation horror is not only one of the best horror films for us, but also one of the best science fiction films of all time – and is accordingly one of the few films that are represented in two FILMSTARTS all-time best lists. “The Fly” has been released by the FSK from 18 years of age and is currently available in just that uncut version on Disney+:
The film is thus available as one of many sci-fi milestones alongside “Alien”, “Predator” or “Starship Troopers” on the mouse house’s streaming platform.
“THE FLY”: BODY-HORROR AT ITS BEST
Based on the short story of the same name by George Langelaan, which was previously filmed in 1958, “The Fly” tells the story of a scientist (Jeff Goldblum) who has developed a teleporter. With the help of a complex computer and two wired cabins, he can thus transport matter directly from one place to another. But soon it is no longer enough for him to simply use objects for his experiments – so he first chases a monkey through his machine before finally carrying out the ultimate self-test. With disastrous consequences…
Naturally, “The Fly” burns itself into the memory at the end above all with its unspeakably disgusting, handmade and, even from today’s perspective, still masterful special effects, for which it once completely deservedly won the Oscar. But the fact that Cronenberg’s sci-fi horror is often mentioned in the same sentence as Carpenter’s “The Thing” is not only due to its qualities as a slimy, slushy creature feature and the remake-better-than-original factor, but in the end mainly due to three men: David Cronenberg, Jeff Goldblum and Howard Shore.
The film not only gets more and more disgusting the longer it goes on, but also unfolds a deeply human horror that gets under your skin with every minute. And this is also due to the fact that director and author David Cronenberg takes the necessary time at the beginning to bring his audience closer to his characters. What also helps is, of course, a super-charismatic leading actor like Jeff Goldblum, who knew how to wrap his audience (and not least female viewers) around his finger with his charm long before “Jurassic Park”. With such an approachable, imperfect clever guy, you just love to be a part of the action.
And then, of course, there is film music legend Howard Shore (“The Lord of the Rings”), who underpins the film’s dark basic theme and its bloodthirsty spikes of violence with perfectly matching, gloomy sounds. His score is the atmospheric crowning glory of the film and ultimately makes “The Fly” what it is: an unbelievably atmospheric genre gem that still captivates you from the first to the last minute, even after more than 35 years.
