Hey...Your Fly Is Down!

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2018)

Not for the squeamish, this retelling of the 1958 classic is to say the least, a little bit more gory than the original.
A young scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) tries to entice a journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) back to his place to see his laboratory. She at first is not impressed but when Seth demonstrates his transporting device to her, she is amazes and immediately wants to report it to the public. Seth follows her to her editor Stathis Borans (John Getz) and all agree to delay the report.
Back at Seth's place the two inevitably fall into the sack and begin to become involved. When Seth successfully transports a baboon from one station to the other, the pair become ecstatic and open a bottle of champagne. Seth meanwhile has become jealous of Borans and while Veronica is away at the office becomes upset to the point of transporting himself in his devices. Unfortunately, he doesn't notice a common house fly in the chamber with him. Uh Oh!
When Seth emerges from the transporting devices, he at first feels normal. But soon he appears to gain strength and mobility and becomes a tireless lover. Veronica discovers some hair like growth on Seth's back. Gradually Seth begins to take on the characteristics of a fly and realizes that something went wrong with his experiment. His appearance begins to change drastically with Veronica becoming more and more fearful.
Veronica learns that she has become pregnant with Seth's child and wants to abort it fearing what might result from the birth. There is a particularly gross dream sequence here where Veronica imagines the birth of her child.
Seth who has re-named himself the "Brundlefly", breaks into the doctor's office where Veronica has gone for her abortion and steals her away returning to the lab. Borans goes with shot gun in hand to rescue her and............................................................ This is the real gory part. The sequence where the Brundlefly attacks Boranis is particularly gross.
Although very upsetting, this picture is well done for this type of horror. David Cronenberg was noted for his attention to detail hence the various makeups and prosthetics used in the fly's transformation. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis are excellent in their roles going from star crossed young lovers to the horrors that await them. Watch for Canadian Heavyweight legend George Chuvalo as the man Seth arm wrestles in the bar.
Just a couple of questions. Where did Seth get all the money to finance his experiments? And what happens to Veronica afterward? Just asking.
Be afraid....really afraid.