Gets better every time.

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2020)

The first time I came across it, I wasn't hugely impressed. I was young, hoping for a mindless creature-feature outing and it was my first taste of David Cronenberg. That being many moons ago. But upon each viewing since then, it has really grown on me. To the point of little details I missed, making it feel like I'm watching it for the first time again. It's simple, but really engages on an emotional level.
This saw director David Cronenberg (the master of body horror) take the concept from the 1958 version of 'The Fly' (which starred one of horror icons Vincent Price) to put his own unique spin on the science-fiction/horror material. His perception was far from conventional, but still a real success. It was an ambitious, admirable and intelligent display.
The straightforward love story beautifully compliments the demented and tragic events awaiting and only Cronenberg could think up something like this. The mental and physical transformation of Jeff Goldblum's scientist character Seth Bundle caused by a scientific project gone awry is expertly projected. Goldblum's confidently twitchy performance is outstanding even behind all that gross make-up FX. The growing affection towards Veronica (a stably strong Geena Davis) the journalist covering his groundbreaking work draws you in even more. There's plenty of convincing character developments that when the slow, but effective groundwork opens up. It's gut-wrenchingly tough and startling with its lyrical dramas and infused visual shocks.
John Getz is good in support as Veronica's jealously smug boss/ex-boyfriend. The special effects are impressive and suitably grotesque with many sequences that remain unforgettable and stand-up to this day. Mark Irwin's photography is sharply executed within what's mostly centered on grungy, confined sets. He gives it a real intimate style, which helps keeps the focused on the two leads and the looming ordeals.
Cronenberg's remake is pure visionary work that successfully splices a real sensitive side with plain unpleasantness.