The Fly II continues the tragic, grotesque and strangely emotional legacy of David Cronenberg’s 1986 masterpiece The Fly. Directed by Chris Walas, who worked on the special effects of the first film, this sequel dives deeper into genetic horror, corporate cruelty, and the emotional cost of scientific experiments gone wrong.
Detailed Summary
The Birth of Martin Brundle
The movie opens with a disturbing sequence: Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis’ character from the first film, shown through archival imagery) gives birth to Seth Brundle’s child. The infant, Martin, is believed to be genetically mutated and is immediately taken into custody by Bartok Industries, led by the emotionless Anton Bartok. Instead of being raised by a mother, he grows up as a lab experiment.
A Genius in a Cage
Martin Brundle grows at an accelerated rate due to his half-human, half-fly DNA. By age five, he looks like a teenager and possesses extraordinary scientific intelligence. Although Bartok Industries provides him with secret comforts, Martin soon realizes he’s treated not as a person, but as property. His growing sense of isolation and curiosity sets the stage for a tragic downfall.
Meeting Beth and Uncovering the Truth
Martin eventually befriends Beth, an employee at the lab. Through her, he begins to experience human connection, something that had been deliberately kept from him. Their relationship introduces emotional stakes to the story. Martin later discovers archived footage of his father, Seth Brundle, learning the truth about the teleportation accident and his inevitable genetic crisis. Enraged, he decides to finish his father’s research and cure himself.
The Mutation Begins
Despite his progress, Martin’s condition worsens. His body begins transforming, similar to his father’s horrifying metamorphosis. His skin peels, bones deform, and strength increases. Unlike Seth Brundle, Martin displays more monstrous features and less humanity. Bartok Industries reveals they never wanted to cure him, only to exploit his abilities. This betrayal pushes Martin into revenge mode.
Movie Ending
In the climax, Martin fully mutates into a massive, nonhumanoid creature known as “Martinfly.” Similar to Seth Brundle, he retains fragments of intelligence and emotion, especially regarding Beth. Martinfly traps Bartok in his own telepod device and forcibly initiates teleportation with Bartok and himself.
The machine performs a DNA swap. This time, unlike Seth’s tragic fusion, the teleporter successfully transfers the mutation: Martin emerges fully human and cured, while Bartok becomes the grotesque, tortured fly creature.
The final scene shows Bartok locked in a laboratory cage, echoing Martin’s childhood—only worse. The mutated Bartok whimpers pitifully, awaiting a fate far crueler than death. The film ends not with sympathy for him, but with a bitter sense of justice.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No post-credits scenes appear in The Fly II. Once the ending hits, you’ve seen all there is to see.
Type of Movie
The Fly II is a body-horror science fiction film that combines tragic character drama with grotesque mutation effects, leaning more toward horror spectacle than the emotional subtlety of the first movie.
Cast
- Eric Stoltz as Martin Brundle
- Daphne Zuniga as Beth Logan
- Lee Richardson as Anton Bartok
- John Getz as Stathis Borans
- Ann Marie Lee as Kimberly
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Christopher Young, known for atmospheric horror soundtracks. His music leans into unsettling, brooding themes, emphasizing the tragic nature of Martin’s transformation rather than purely shocking the audience.
Filming Locations and Significance
The movie’s primary filming location was Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Industrial interiors and lab sets emphasize corporate coldness. The sterile environments contrast strongly with the grotesque mutation effects, reinforcing how science and profit can distort life into horror.
Awards and Nominations
- Won: Saturn Award for Best Special Effects
- Nominated: Best Horror Film (Saturn Awards)
Though the film didn’t match the original’s acclaim, its creature design and practical effects were widely praised.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Chris Walas, the director, worked on the special effects of the first movie and brought a deeper emphasis on creature design for the sequel.
- Eric Stoltz had to endure hours of makeup application, especially during late-stage transformation scenes.
- The final Bartok creature was operated by multiple puppeteers and took months to design.
- The studio insisted on more graphic violence to appeal to horror audiences, pushing the film toward more explicit effects than Cronenberg’s installment.
Inspirations and References
The film expands on the ideas from George Langelaan’s original short story The Fly, but transforms them into a more corporate-driven dystopian tale. The sequel focuses on how science can be controlled, weaponized, and monetized, rather than purely exploring accidental tragedy.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
- An alternate subplot involved Martin showing more insect aggression toward animals, but it was cut to keep him emotionally sympathetic.
- Early versions considered killing Martin in an anti-heroic finale, but the studio wanted a satisfying moral reversal, resulting in Bartok becoming the monster.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The Fly franchise originates from Langelaan’s short story, but The Fly II is not a direct adaptation. The movie expands the universe with corporate exploitation themes instead of scientific accident tragedy. The biggest shift is that Martin’s transformation is portrayed as destiny, not an accident, highlighting generational consequences.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The disturbing accelerated growth reveal showing Martin as a five-year-old in a teenage body.
- Martin discovering his father’s final message and vowing to cure himself.
- The transformation of Bartok after the telepod DNA swap, screaming as he becomes the monster.
Iconic Quotes
- Martin: “I’m not like my father. I’m better.”
- Bartok: “Your life’s work is ours.”
- Stathis Borans (returning from the first film): “You want to know what happened to your father? I’ll show you horror.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Bartok Industries’ logo resembles insect mandibles, foreshadowing the mutation theme.
- Stathis Borans’ scars from the first movie remain visible, showing long-term consequences.
- Martin’s intelligence mirrors Seth Brundle’s scientific style, including visual nods to his father’s experiments.
Trivia
- Chris Walas turned down directing Gremlins 2 to make The Fly II.
- The dog mutation scene was cut down to avoid an NC-17 rating.
- A deleted death scene for Beth featured insect dismemberment but was deemed too gruesome.
Why Watch?
This film is worth watching for its practical creature effects, tragic continuation of the Brundle legacy, and darker focus on corporate horror. While not as philosophically rich as the first film, it delivers emotionally charged body horror with a morally satisfying ending.
Director’s Other Works
- Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994)
- Special makeup/special effects on films such as Gremlins (1984) and Enemy Mine (1985)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Fly (1986)
- Videodrome (1983)
- Species (1995)
- Altered States (1980)
- The Thing (1982)
