The Mixmaster's Horror Movie Countdown, October 8: The Fly

The Fly (1986)

Anyone seen my T-shirt?

Dear David Cronenberg,

You permanently re-wired me.

Not sure if it was the scene when Jeff Goldblum, who becomes a massive, bipedal fly, dissolves a man's hand with battery-acid vomit, or the scene where the baboon blows up from the inside-out, but I'm permanently fucked.

Toodles,
Young Nick.

David Cronenberg is a master of simplicity. The Fly (1986) is a remake of a 1958 film of the same name that's a bit more plot-heavy. There are flashbacks, I mean. Cronenberg took the '58 film and cut the fat, and made it about his very favorite subject -- the relationship of the mind and the body.

In this case, it's about complete transformation physically (into a weirdly moist-skinned fly), while the mind retains it's Jeff Goldblum-y psychology. Somehow, he keeps it simple and terrifying. The Fly (1958) is a good rent, for sure, but stick with Cronenberg for some primal terror. Few filmmakers are better at making your skin crawl.

The most memorable scene after the jump...

Most Memorable Scene:

Oh Jesus, the fingernail sequence. Jesus. Jesus. If you've seen it--you know what I'm talking about. Cringing ... summarizing: Jeff Goldblum, after his DNA merges with a fly, starts to transform. He goes into the bathroom, bites his fingernail, and it comes loose (AHHH! AHHH!). Then, he peels another off. And. And. When he presses his finger, a WEIRD JUICE SPITS OUT. OK, I'm done.

The Mixmaster's Horror Movie Countdown
October 1: Halloween
October 2: Antichrist
October 3: Student Bodies
October 4: Poltergeist
October 5: Jaws
October 6: Suspiria
October 7: Scream