The Fly (1986)

The Fly (1986) — a tense, tragic blend of drama, horror and sci‑fi from director David Cronenberg — follows brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), whose experiments in matter teleportation go horribly wrong when a common housefly becomes fused with him at the molecular level. As Brundle’s body and mind slowly mutate into the grotesque “Brundlefly,” the film tracks his desperate attempts to save himself and the emotional fallout for investigative journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis), who becomes both his confidante and witness to his collapse. Viewing experience: the movie moves from curiosity and darkly witty romance into mounting dread and visceral body horror. You’ll feel intellectual fascination at the sci‑fi premise give way to mounting horror as masterful practical makeup and effects render a painfully believable, gradual transformation. Goldblum’s magnetic, tragic performance and Davis’s earnest reaction shots keep the human cost front and center, while Cronenberg probes themes of scientific hubris, identity and loss. Expect intense emotional beats, disturbing imagery, and a steady escalation of suspense — plus the film’s now‑iconic line that captures its paranoia: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.” Recommended for fans of smart, character‑driven horror and body‑horror cinema; viewer discretion advised for scenes of graphic transformation and gore.

Actors: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz

Director: David Cronenberg

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

7.0 /10 81 /100 7.6 /10 7.6 /10