The Fly (1986)

David Cronenberg’s The Fly (1986) is one of the most unsettling yet brilliant sci-fi horror films ever made. Mixing grotesque body horror with a tragic love story, it remains a landmark of practical effects and psychological storytelling.

Detailed Summary

The Beginning: An Ambitious Experiment

Brilliant but socially awkward scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) meets journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) at a science event. He reveals his invention: a teleportation device called “telepods.” Intrigued, Veronica agrees to document his progress. Their professional collaboration quickly evolves into a romantic relationship.

First Success and the Monkey Mishap

At first, Brundle struggles with teleporting living beings. His test on a baboon results in a horrifying failure — the creature reemerges mangled and inside-out. Brundle realizes his machine doesn’t understand “the flesh.” After refining his programming, he successfully teleports another baboon unharmed, proving the technology works.

The Accident

Excited by his breakthrough, Brundle decides to teleport himself. However, he fails to notice a common housefly trapped inside the telepod. The computer merges his genetic code with the fly’s, unknowingly beginning his transformation.

The Transformation Begins

At first, Brundle feels euphoric. He gains increased strength, stamina, and sexual energy. He believes he’s been “purified” by the teleportation. But soon, disturbing changes appear: coarse bristles sprout from his back, his fingernails fall off, his skin deteriorates, and he develops a taste for sugar. His behavior grows erratic and aggressive, straining his relationship with Veronica.

The Horrifying Discovery

Brundle learns that his DNA has fused with the fly’s. He is no longer purely human but a hybrid organism. As his body continues to mutate grotesquely, Veronica becomes increasingly horrified. She discovers she is pregnant with his child, raising the disturbing question: is the baby human, or part-fly?

Brundlefly Emerges

Now calling himself “Brundlefly,” Seth is more insect than man. His body collapses into a hideous amalgamation of human flesh and insect parts. In one of the most iconic sequences, he vomits digestive acid on a man’s limbs, dissolving them instantly. His humanity slips further away as the fly DNA dominates.

Movie Ending

The climax is both tragic and devastating. Veronica, terrified and torn, plans to abort the pregnancy, fearing what might be growing inside her. Brundle, however, kidnaps her and insists the baby is their only hope of preserving a part of him that’s still human. He drags her to the telepods for a final, desperate experiment.

His plan: merge himself, Veronica, and the unborn child into one “perfect” organism. But before he can finish, Veronica’s former lover Stathis (John Getz) intervenes. In the chaos, Brundle is accidentally fused with the metal and glass of the telepod itself, creating a horrifying human-insect-machine monstrosity.

Barely recognizable, the broken creature crawls out of the machine. In a heartbreaking moment, the deformed Brundlefly silently begs Veronica to end his suffering. With tears in her eyes, she raises a shotgun and kills him. The film ends abruptly after the gunshot, leaving Veronica devastated and the audience stunned.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Fly (1986) does not include any post-credits scenes. The tragic ending is final and conclusive, with no additional footage or teasers after the credits roll.

Type of Movie

The film is a sci-fi horror tragedy. It blends grotesque physical transformation with a doomed love story, making it both terrifying and emotionally shattering.

Cast

• Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle
• Geena Davis as Veronica Quaife
• John Getz as Stathis Borans

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Howard Shore, who delivers a chilling orchestral soundtrack that mirrors Brundle’s tragic descent. The music shifts from hopeful to ominous, ending in somber tones that emphasize the story’s heartbreaking finale.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily in Toronto, Canada, with studio work at Pinewood Studios. The confined laboratory set plays a crucial role, emphasizing Brundle’s growing isolation and descent into madness.

Awards and Nominations

• Won: Academy Award for Best Makeup (Chris Walas and Stephan Dupuis) – widely praised for its groundbreaking practical effects.
• Nominated: Saturn Awards (Best Actor for Jeff Goldblum, Best Actress for Geena Davis, Best Director for David Cronenberg).

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Cronenberg initially hesitated to direct but took over after another director left.
• Jeff Goldblum wore extensive prosthetics that took up to five hours each day to apply.
• Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum were dating during filming, adding intensity to their on-screen relationship.
• Several stomach-turning effects, including the vomiting acid, were achieved with practical prosthetics and puppetry.

Inspirations and References

The movie is a loose remake of the 1958 film “The Fly”, which itself was based on a short story by George Langelaan. Cronenberg’s version takes the basic concept but makes it far darker, more tragic, and heavily grounded in body horror.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

A deleted scene known as “the butterfly baby” depicted Veronica dreaming of giving birth to a maggot that turns into a butterfly. Test audiences hated it, so Cronenberg cut it, believing the original ending was powerful enough on its own.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Unlike the earlier film and short story, Cronenberg’s version focuses heavily on the psychological and emotional toll of transformation, not just the shock factor. The film’s emphasis on tragic romance is its biggest departure.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The failed teleportation of the baboon.
• Seth teleporting himself with the fly.
• Brundle climbing walls with insect-like strength.
• The shocking reveal of Brundle’s full insect form.
• The gut-wrenching final mercy killing.

Iconic Quotes

• Seth Brundle: “I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over, and the insect is awake.”
• Seth Brundle: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The telepods were inspired by a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine.
• Cronenberg himself makes a cameo as the gynecologist in Veronica’s nightmare sequence.
• The title card pays homage to the original The Fly (1958) by using similar typography.

Trivia

• Jeff Goldblum’s performance was so powerful that many critics called it Oscar-worthy, though he was controversially snubbed.
• The makeup effects inspired later horror films, including The Thing and The Mist.
• Chris Walas, who designed the creature, later directed The Fly II (1989).

Why Watch?

Because it’s not just a horror movie — it’s a tragic love story in disguise. Cronenberg forces the audience to confront the fragility of the human body, the terror of disease and decay, and the heartbreak of losing someone you love to transformation. It’s both disturbing and deeply moving.

Director’s Other Movies (David Cronenberg)

• Videodrome (1983)
• Scanners (1981)
• Dead Ringers (1988)
• Crash (1996)
• Eastern Promises (2007)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Thing (1982)
• Videodrome (1983)
• Alien (1979)
• An American Werewolf in London (1981)
• The Mist (2007)