Disgusting indeed, but that's the way it's supposed to be

Rating: 8/10 (20 August 2000)

Magazine journalist Veronica "Ronnie" Quaife (Geena Davis) meets scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) during an interview, at a science fair-like party. Seth has been working alone on "teleportation", a new way of transportation, if successfully developed, you won't have to get car-sick, or air-sick, or sea-sick, or even tricycle-sick...any more. Ronnie witnesses Seth's experiments, right from the turned-inside out baboon (it seems to be a prophecy for the future horror) to success. And eventually, the two fall in love.
Seth tries to teleport himself and he makes it. What he doesn't know yet is that a housefly gets into the booth and is stuck there with him. The computer gets confused, mixes Seth's DNA with the insect's. He begins to transform into a half human, half bug monster. His changes are not just physical, not just what he looks like, but also mental. He's no longer Seth Brundle, the gentle, shy, intelligent, charming and lonely scientist, he is now vicious, aggressive "Brundlefly". He doesn't act like a human being, because he's not a human being. He acts like a dangerous, brutal mutant.
It is fascinating to watch the process of Seth Brundle's metamorphosis. At the beginning Seth is scared, then he becomes more like a freak psychologically, although he desperately wants to be a human again. His profound sadness, shame and despair become fury when he sees Stathis Borans (Ronnie's editor and ex-boyfriend, played by John Getz) accompany Ronnie (nothing else, just accompanying her, that's all). This could be the reason why later Brundlefly attacks Stathis so mercilessly. Although it is out of self-defense (Stathis is about to shoot Seth with a shotgun, trying to save Ronnie), but Brundlefly almost kills Stathis because he has always been so jealous of Stathis and hates him so much, even Stathis is no longer involved with Ronnie.
Originally it is a good intention to invent teleportation, but when something goes wrong during the scientific experiment with Seth himself, it becomes a personal tragedy. The film itself is intense, Geena Davis delivers a powerful, fantastic performance as heartbroken Ronnie. But I find Stathis Borans an especially likeable character, at first he is a bit annoying and possessive as Ronnie's ex-lover, but later when Ronnie is in trouble, he lovingly helps her and stays by her side.
Followed by a compelling sequel.