The practical effects in this film are just legendary

Body horror aside, this story is tragic. The psychological and mental buildup to his transformation is a huge part of why this movie works. In the end, he literally asked her to kill him to take him out of his misery. Sad, sad stuff.

Even though this is a horror movie, I have always thought of it as a tragic love story. Jeff Goldblum has never been better, and the fact that he wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar is a tragedy.

"I keep forgetting what kind of film I'm watching" is the highest order of compliment to a movie geek like me. Glad to see this film keep getting all the disgusting, horrifying and yet incredibly tragic love it deserves

I grew up on the original (1958)…saw it when I was 7. Scared me to death. While it’s not as gory as the remake by any means, it still haunted my dreams for years. Especially the ending. If you know, you know.

"I don't know where this is going..." The Fly lets the body horror creep up on you until it vomits acid everwhere 🤮, and Goldblum's personality change is wonderfully paced. I love his scientific curiosity over his situation, no matter how horrific, and his twisted acceptance of what he becomes is pitiable. You really do feel sorry for what he is going through despite his actions. The sequel, though not Cronenberg, is worth a watch for the monster FX and body horror.

So happy that you saw The Fly after Videodrome, from Cronenberg's genius ! What's amazing in this film is the fact that it becomes more emotional than 99,99% of horror films out there, if only because the plot involves 3 crazy character arcs involved in a love triangle: 1) a likeable man losing gradually his body and mind; 2) a woman initially involved with him to pursue her own interests, and then gradually in love, only to wish the offspring of said love being thrown away ASAP; 3) and an initially dislikeable character that becomes the saviour at the eleventh hour, not after the audience gets the opportunity to empatize with him through the gruesome ordeal he goes through in the final scene. A masterpiece by all standards + 2 well-deserved Academy Awards (visual effects and makeups, though Jeff Goldblum should've been considered for best actor IMO). Also noteworthy is Howard Shore's excellent and moving score. Also, totally agree with comparison with The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers: all were 1970s-1980s remakes of 1950s sci-fi horror movies. Well-done practical effects are 100% more effective than CGI, and it's such a pity that this form of art is getting lost, because it had an edge computers can't emulate.

Arguably Cronenberg’s best movie (which is REALLY saying something). What I love is that even when his plots are crazy or his effects are vomit-inducing, there’s always a deep sense of intelligence and care to anything he touches. The Fly is not just a horror movie. It’s a tragic love story.

"WHERE ARE YOU GETTING ALL THESE BABOONS?" has got to be my favorite reaction out of all your reactions. absolutely hilarious.

watched this last october not knowing what to expect, and it ended up being one of my favorites of the month😂

My dad showed this and The Thing to me when I was like 12. I don't think I've ever recovered.

BEST reaction of this film, ever. I was reliving the film, as if for the first time, watching your incredulity. By the way, when they did the final transformation, the first take left a big piece of flesh on the fly's head; so they had to put it all together and refilm it so ALL the pieces would fall to the floor. No way CGI could EVER be as effective as this real-life practical-effects sequence. GREAT reaction. :)

Jeff Goldblum on the ceiling is quite an old Hollywood trick. First used in MGM's musical "Royal Wedding," it shows Fred Astaire dancing on the walls and the ceiling and back to the floor all done in one shot. This was done by mounting the "room" within a drum, fixing the furniture and camera and then revolving the drum. It was used again in Lionel Ritchie's music video "Dancing on the Ceiling" and in a brief sequence in 1982s "Poltergeist." The drum is still housed at the MGM studios for whomever needs to use it for a film project.

I saw this in theaters when it was released, I just graduated high school. It was as stunning back then to us as it was to you now. Back then, people really screamed when Gina's character went to hug him after he'd drooled acid on the doughnut. And fight me on this: the wrist breaking scene has the greatest special /practical effect ever put on film. Love your reactions, bro!

This is basically a perfect film. Editing and pacing are so crisp, absolutely nothing in it that doesn't need to be. Wild ride. Oh and it breaks your heart too.

James, now you know why I recommended this on the Patreon. It's in contention for best horror movie of the 80s for sure. Like you said, the practical effects were next level. You'd be even more impressed if you had seen the original The Fly from 1958 and how far they took the story as well.

One of the kings of body horror. I don't understand how he keeps thinking of new ways to truly creep us out to our cores. Even his kid picked up the knack!

I watched this as a child and was traumatized so much that when Goldblums character popped up in Jurassic Park I actually freaked out ☠️

I remember being a young teen feeling brave going on a binge through the horror section at the local tape rental place. I was disappointed that so many horror “classics” failed to live up to the nightmares my childhood brain had conjured from the box art… until I got to The Fly. When it ended, I knew in the pit of my soul that I was too young for that, and it would haunt me the rest of my days.

The first cronenberg movie I saw when I was a kid; creeped me out, yet mesmerized me all at once. I think I saw Body snatchers before, but this was the first time I really became aware of Jeff Goldblum. Absolute classic film. Along with the Thing and Body snatchers, one of the great remakes of 50s popcorn sci-fi.

"Dude came fresh off the Thriller set" killed me :D This film made the news when it came out, people marveled at its grossness but were intrigued by its ingenuity. The ceiling wallcrawl scene in particular was a revolving tubular set that spun as Goldblum traversed to the ground.

Goldblum's signature role, I think. He completely nails the personality and physical transformation and makes it so believable. It is a tragedy, of course and so sad at the end. Some of the best makeup effects ever and your replusion was hilarious to watch. Another one of those movies that should never be remade, as it wouldn't have Goldblum and CGI would suck the life out of it,, even though this itself is a remake - go check out the original. :)

I agree bro. The Fly is way more disgusting than it is scary. This film never scared me, even when I saw it as a kid. (Us 80s babies are different.) Great reaction bro! 👍🏿

"Disgusted, enthralled, & weirdly moved" - yep, best summary of this movie.

Now that you've seen The Thing and The Fly, it's time to complete the 80's Horror Remake Trilogy with 1988's THE BLOB. A real hidden gem written by Frank Darabont, who directed The Mist, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile. A well-made horror movie that's also really fun!

Grew up with the original 1958 version and saw this when it first came out. Whoa, was not expecting anything like it. Horrific, but they really amped up the heartbreak as well which is what made it stick in your mind long after you saw it.

I watched this at age nine. It opened my world to a whole new world of movies. I’m so happy that you have enjoyed it ❤❤

James this is easily one of my top 5 reactions from you. Your increasing dread and then straight HORROR as the hits kept coming was amazing

Just watched this movie for the first time a couple weeks ago and did not expect to love it so much. Honestly way more heartbreaking and sad than scary

Naked Lunch is another Cronenberg film you should check out. It's based on a book of the same title by William S. Burroughs. Read the book and I promise your first thought will be, "How the hell could you film that?!" If you're anything like me that'll get you really hyped to watch the movie. 😊

I am fairly confident it will be a while before we hear you say "Oh my god his ear fell off" in a react. I loved this film the moment I first saw it in my teens. Its so good in so many ways.

Cheers James - this one was custom-made for a reaction hey. I think Cronenberg did something great here. For such monstrous subject matter, the level of humanity in this movie is incredible. Shout out to all the actors - brilliant characters. Also shout out to Howard Shore for the music. It all comes together in this one. And ... 12:01 Great revised tag line for the movie James!

I remember seeing this film by accident as a kid and being traumatized by the practical gory effects. Later, I watched it as a teenager and found it tremendously compelling not just for the body horror but for the tragic romance at the heart of the story. It's become one of my favorite films of all time and i'm really glad to see it getting more appreciation these days with people my age.

My friends and I saw this in the theatre as kids and we were so grossed out and hyped when it was over.

I literally felt like puking at times when watching this movie. The special effects are legendary. I am never arm wrestling ever again after this.

This is my favorite film of all time. The special effects give the story so much more dimension. I'm not spoiling anything just in case somebody sees it based off my recommendation.😊

“Dude came straight off the Thriller set” Quote of the year 🤣

There’s actually a deleted scene for this movie when Jeff was starting to have malformations on his body, before shedding and turning into a fly, he puts a cat and the other baboon that he had in both chambers and teleported and blended them together and it looked terrifying and disgusting, and after, Jeff killed the blended abomination with a pipe. They deleted it because they thought it was too much violence and gore to be adding that specific scene in there.

This is one of my all time favorite horror/sci fly film. So funny to watch you wincing through the gnarly parts! Hahahaha

I remember watching this with my parents and my brother at a drive-in movie theater when I was a kid.

'The Fly' is best known for the effects and grossing out the audience but it's also an incredibly intimate tragedy, which takes it up a whole other level (largely thanks to the actors).

This was a complete re-write of the 1958 movie. That was before my time, but I remember seeing a run of it one Saturday afternoon back in the '70s. When this came out, we all went to see it and it didn't disappoint. It was also the first introduction of many of us to Jeff Goldblum. When he started showing up in other films he had some great recognition as the Brundlefly guy. We had seen him in stuff like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Big Chill, but in my mind this is when he made it big.

Another great Cronenberg (my fave) but not really leaning into body horror, so much as drama, is "A History of Violence". It's the one that makes you see Cronenberg as not just a horror film maker, but a teller of dramatic stories. That would be a great one for reacting to.

You're two deep into the Cronenberg filmography, there's no looking back now James... His stuff in the 2000's is like is the same body horror but in a new genre, crime instead of sci-fi, really amazing collabs with Viggo Morgensen.

Love folks reaction to the fly..all time top 5 fav films

I laughed out loud at this reaction. You cracked me up! "Apparently there's a second one. Absolutely not " ahahahahahahahahah

In the words of Dr. Ian Malcolm from _Jurassic Park_ , *"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they 'could', that they didn't stop to think if they 'should'."*

This may be the most reactive of your reactions that I've seen, and it was epic! I laughed a lot! 😅 Thanks James!

While most horror movies don't particularly frighten me, your reaction nails why Cronenberg is one of my favourite Directors. The pure intensity of the OOHHHH!s and EEEUUUUGGGHHH!s he makes you feel.

THIS FILM GETS WILD BRUH! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a great day!

This movie makes me see the saying :" its not the destination but the journey that is important" in a totally new way. 😉

I was an usher/projectionist when this movie was released. I used to love standing at the back of the theater and watch people freak out when she hugs him after he pukes on him self.

This is a top ten film for me, it's horrifying, emotional, tragic and disturbing all at once a true classic in my opinion.

As much as I love the original The Fly, I've been watching it since I was a kid in the 60's, this was so much fun to watch with James. I did see this movie in the cinema and it was pretty cool, I must say.

One of my favorite movies! I had a lot of fun watching it along with you!!

Breaking the guy's arm during the arm-wrestling scene is one of the few times I've screamed out loud while watching a movie.

I couldn't even keep eye contact with the screen for your reaction! Lmao. I've watched this movie so many times, and it never gets easier

So glad you're doing more Cronenberg :) this is one of the greatest body horror films of all time imo

Now that’s what I call a reaction dude. James vs Cinema...the theater viewing was absolutely insane. Cool breeze. Might I suggest Jeff Goldblum in the little seen gems Mister Frost and Mad Dog Time . Must see viewing if you are a Goldblum fan and cinefile. Cheers!

I like how while a lot of horror movies keep a lot of elements off screen to let the audiences imagination create the horror, David Cronenberg will just show something thats way more messed up than anything you could ever imagine.

First Videodrome, now The Fly! Hell yeah!

18:00. I could not wait util he saw that Seth was actually on the ceiling when he was making that joke!😆

One of the best Sci Fi Body Horror Thriller Films ever made! It won the Oscar for Best Make-up at the 1987 Academy Awards.

I agree this always grossed me out more than the Thing as a kid, its gnarly af : D

The film is absolutely incredible. His dialogue about insect politics is brilliant. During that sequence you can actually see him slip away from his humanity. In the beginning, he tells her to leave, at the end he tells her to stay. That's why she freaks out and bolts. She realizes that, while talking, he has lost all his conscience, like an insect he doesn't have morals anymore at the end of the scene. The final scene is perfection too. The build up, the pure horror, the music. It all works together to create one of the best final 8 minutes to a movie ever. Such a heartbreaking moment when he tells her to kill him. When it's done, I was literally saying "Roll credits. Come on, Cronenberg. Roll credits." The light flickers out and he cuts to the credits. Movie perfection.

Great review. Favorite line: "Oh,look at this. What's this? I don't know".

There's not many things from movies that I find hard to watch but the way Stathis gets his limbs melted is one of those times.

David Cronenberg is a real master of the arts! Obviously his movies had the most amazing practical effects but also the directing, the storytelling, the cinematography and the actors/actresses in his movies were really great! The Fly, Videodrome, Scanners, Eastern Promises, A History of violence etc. etc.

Cronenberg is a Canadian treasure. Scanners is awesome as well. He also has a director son, Brandon.

It's weird to think of a movie that is so disgusting, full of top tier body horror, that makes me cry at the end of it.

There is a story about how this movie came to be, because Cronenberg saw the original Fly as a kid. There was a Q&A after the movie, in which Cronenberg asked them a question about the film they couldn't answer. It's kinda spoiler-y for the original movie, but it was about the transformation, and why it happened like it it did (in the 1958 movie).

I remember watching this as a kid and it freaked me out! Best usage of movie makeup and practical effects I’ve seen yet

I haven't even watched you watch it yet but I gotta tell you, I busted out laughing at your thumbnail. All I could do was laugh while shaking my head "Yup, yup, you're right" 😂😂😂

Cronenberg is one of those filmmakers with a really ... let's say weird taste - but an amazing creative vision and follow-through as well, and the history and culture of cinema is much richer for (a lot of) their work (I'd also count people like Lynch, Verhoeven and Jarmusch among those). The story told here (loosely based on a short story by George Langelaan) is like a mixture of Kafka's Metamorphosis and Frankenstein. Frankenstein, of course, is a gothic horror version of themes present in myth, literature, and drama since antiquity - of playing with far-reaching power without understanding the consequences or ethical implications ("The modern prometheus"). This theme features heavily in a lot of horror movies (it does lend itself quite naturally) - and is perfectly combined here with the alienation and self-alienation themes in the form of the transformation into a "gross" insect, which is the central point of Kafka's Metamorphosis. But again, in a more general form, the transformation of humans into "lower" creatures to symbolize disdain, exclusion and sometimes alienation and self-exclusion is also much older than Kafka - it seems to appear in very old myths in many cultures.

The yelling was awesome LOL.

I watched this when i was 12 years old. I´m 42 and still shocked^^

One of the first times i remember being genuinely scared as a kid was seeing the original black and white version of The Fly. It was on in the afternoon so i thought i was safe. How wrong i was. I dipped behind my sofa when they pulled the sheet off his head. Watched this version years later and loved it. Still haven't gone back to finish the original... Awesome reaction J!

This movie is probably one of the best cinematic body horror experiences. The fact that it's still grossing people out 37 years later is a testament to the master class that it is, not to mention it's well acted and directed.

Can't shake off the thought that Jeff Goldblum was cast for this role at least partially because of his huge eyes and how far he can protrude them like a fly 😭 Like I'm 100% sure "huge eyes" was a part of the description for casting the lead.

Glad to see you on a Cronenberg kick. Try SCANNERS (1981) next. An indie film from Canada, it's a little rough around the edges but goddamn, it's intense. After that, THE BROOD (1979), and finally, his Stephen King adaptation, THE DEAD ZONE (1983). But honestly, you can never really go wrong with Cronenberg in that his work is always challenging and interesting.

Hey, James! "The Fly" is a fusion of two types of horror: mad scientist horror and body horror. In the '40's, the mad science genre was very popular involving a well-intentioned scientist whose revolutionary discovery goes off the rails transforming him or a hapless subject into an actual monster or monstrous person. Classic Victorian horror literature was the basis for this genre with stories like Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and H.G. Wells' "The Invisible Man". Body horror is more explicit and, therefore, more modern. The threat to sanity and self emerges from within rather than from an external source. This genre stems from people's fear of their own bodies betraying them like cancer or congenital deformities or an aversion to bodily functions. The earliest Pre-Code cinematic example is 1932's "Freaks" by Tod Browning. Canadian director David Cronenberg specializes in body horror with films like "Rabid", "Scanners", "The Brood", "Videodrome", "Dead Ringers", "Naked Lunch" and "Crash". In case you weren't aware, there is a classic horror sci-fi from 1958 called "The Fly" directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Vincent Price. A scientist experimenting with teleportation genetically merges with a fly trapped in the telepod. When their atomic structures are reassembled, two beings emerge: a man with a gigantic fly head and a fly with a tiny human head. It sounds ridiculous but it's quite affecting especially the haunting, horrific ending! David Cronenberg's 1986 remake has the benefit of spectacular practical effects and the phenomenal performances of both Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The updated version is a prime example of body horror as Goldblum's human body begins exhibiting fly characteristics that become dominant. It also has a Kafka-esque subtext with existential lines like "I was a fly who dreamt he was a man and loved it but now the fly's awake." Both films are excellent. They are tragic romances. Seth Brundle was a good man who didn't deserve the horrible fate he suffered. The final teleportation has him merge with the telepod door since it initiated when he was half out of the pod tangled in debris. You feel pity for the man he was and the monstrosity he has become. Unable to speak and in unspeakable pain, he gestures with his head and arm to be destroyed and Geena Davis obliges. It's very sad. As for John Getz's Stathis, he pays a steep price for being opportunistic and manipulative but is allowed redemption in the climax. That makes for an interesting character with a little more dimension than your standard villain. The world is full of shades of gray. The sequel is about Brundle's son played by Eric Stoltz. It's a decent follow-up. During the Vice Presidential debate of the last American election cycle, Saturday Night Live parodied both the '58 Neumann film and the '86 Cronenberg film when Jim Carrey's Joe Biden teleported to Mike Pence's head as a human-fly hybrid who began speaking with Jeff Goldblum's distinctive verbal cadence. Did you see the sketch? It was a riff on an actual fly that distractingly alighted on Pence's white hair to which he was oblivious as he talked.

Cronenberg's signature has always been body horror. Weirdly, The Fly is less disturbing to me than A History of Violence. There's something about the revelation that your spouse is not who they say they are that is more horrifying to me than fusing a human with a fly.

I almost rewatched the uncut along with you last night, I'm glad I didn't. I saw it the once 20 years ago immediately after watching the original and that was enough. I appreciate how much you selectively covered in this edit.

Goldblum’s EYES are the first frame of the movie and guide us through his loss of humanity. Just His manic eye movements from start to finish are incredible and can tell the entire story with 0 dialogue Edit: “Peter Parker lucked out” LMAOOOO

Seth Brundle: I'm saying... I'm saying I - I'm an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over... and the insect is awake.

Your reaction was one of your best. Long time sub here. Great stuff man. Glad you really appreciated the film.

A horrifying and horribly tragic human drama told masterfully with, obviously, superb practical effects and some amazing performances by the cast. I also think it's such a cool reversal of roles that the scummy ex becomes the saviour in the end at great cost to himself. I frikkin love this movie.

This is the most visceral reaction I've ever seen from James.

Howard Shore later wrote an opera for The Fly that played in Paris and Los Angeles in 2008. David Cronenberg was the director, and Denise Cronenberg (David's sister) again did costumes.

Love the review! One of the best channels on KZfaq! Keep it up Sir James.

We could see your analytical mind melt away and the pure gut reactions taking over as the movie went along. It's just that good at what it does. 🤣🤣

Even at the end there is a sliver of him in there, putting that barrel to his head...gets me every time.

James is my best movie analyst. The dude is so on point every time, and that's why I'll keep watching your vids. Thanks James for your contributions and entertainment. I salute you sir.

"He's coming apart like a tender chicken bone". Lmao James you've been on fire lately.

Through revolutionary make up/practical effects and an added sense of emotional depth, Cronenberg was able to take what was a pretty compelling b movie from the 50s and turn it into a modern day Greek tragedy. One of the best remakes ever; right up there alongside The Thing.

Watched so many of these reactions and thoroughly enjoy your comments. Now joined the patreon as well. One of my favourite subscriptions 👍🏻🇬🇧

Hell yeah, another Cronenberg joint! What a legend!

“He’s comin apart like a tender chicken bone !!” I’m dead 😂

David Cronenberg has stated that this movie was a metaphor for death and dying.

Ohhh! Ohhh!, I don't even know how to give you guys proper commentary. Nope, you said it perfectly. That was definitely a proper reaction.