CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'The Fly' (1986)

Jeff Goldblum
in 'The Fly'“The Fly” (1986)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel

The Gist: “The Fly” is half love story, half horrow show and entirely classic.

The Story: Dr. Seth Brundle (Goldblum) is working on an invention that will change the world as we know it. That’s the pickup line he uses to attract the interest of Ronnie (Davis), a cute reporter for a science magazine. Fortunately, he’s got the goods to back it up. Seth shows Ronnie a set of working teleportation pods — Ronnie jokingly calls them “designer phone booths.” The telepods could revolutionize transportation. The trouble is, Brundle hasn’t worked out all the bugs. He experiments on himself, zapping himself from one pod to another. Shortly after, he develops faster reflexes, greater agility and strength. He thinks the teleporter somehow purified him. He’s dead wrong.

The Review: The ancient Greeks told the story of Icarus, a man who soared through the air on wings made from wax and feathers. Icarus flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax and sent him plummeting to his death. “The Fly” is a variation on that ancient theme. History, time and again, has borne out the truism that humankind is too smart for its own good. We invent technological terrors before we know how to use them safely and responsibly. Cronenberg, who directed and co-wrote this remake of a classic 1958 horror film, combined these mythic themes with a very touching and quirky love story. The sweet romance, combined with gruesome and gooey special effects, make for a unique hybrid.

The Classic Quote: Brundle: “I’m saying, I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over. And the insect is awake.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)