The Fly

As a child in the theater I screamed and had bad dreams.... Then as a teenager I watched the "Fly" on TV and still Jumped back in fear at the sight of that horrible face! A few years later my friends and I watched it on TV again, but this time I turned down the sound at the scary scenes ( theorizing that the music was the cause of the fear) but even at low volume the haunting cries of "Help me...Help me" gave me the chills. A MUST SEE DF.

The "help me, help meeeee" scene revolted and scared me so much as a young child that it was years before I could see this movie again. Even now I cringe when I witness that nightmarish scene. As good as Cronenberg's movie is (and it is very good), there is nothing that surpasses the delirious horror of the man-fly in the spider's grasp.

Elsewhere, the movie is rather subdued. In some spots, almost too much so. Although the first revelation of The Fly's appearance is another classic spot...the multiple reflections was a great touch. Like all great monsters, the Fly has a very sympathetic edge to it. We are revolted by the horror of this monster but we feel overwhelming pity for him as well.

Vincent Price does a workman-like job in a rather blasé part. Usually he adds a special touch to a film, but really, any number of actors could have played his part here.

The scientific basis of this movie is pure rubbish, as there is no way that insect and human parts could biologically interact with each other. The result of such a mixture would be instantly dead in real life.

But that doesn't matter here. A nightmare has its own logic. And "The Fly" is a nightmare.

It's been said again and again that this is a good horror film. A Very Good film. But it is more than that.

I can still hear with my mind's ear (is that right?) the sound of the hydraulic press "WHUMP" and the echo. Then again that "WHUMP" ... is there another sound experience that reverberates through a movie like that?

Sure, surround sound, THX, all that tech stuff, but the sound as the manifestation of the crime that encircles this story, the horror as the mind tries to put together the images that (finally) is seen in a flashback as this scene bookends the start and "finish" of the plot.

The inner struggle of the scientist as he fights with his human hand to control the spasms of his "fly" arm is both horrible and heart-wrenching.

The shock as the cloth is torn away from the scientist's head... the fly's POV shot with facets and mirrors of the the screaming face of the scientist's poor wife! The scene at the spider's web as the shrill voice begs "help me... help me"

The horror of murder of a man/thing and a thing/man being shown and even compared in sharp (but obvious) dialogue.

You MUST see this and experience the earlier days of horror -when classics like this, like "The Thing From Another World," like "It, the Terror From Beyond Space" (the original model of Alien) exhibit a freshness and a palpable terror that remakes cannot capture, whatever wonderful special effects are thrown in to add to the creepiness. Sure these later gorefest horror films are good. I buy them all the time. But they are a different genre. The Fly with Vincent Price is NOT the same story as The Fly with Jeff Goldblum. It's not really a remake as a retelling.

See the original. It is rich with emotion and intelligence, not to mention some pretty fine acting for what was really a "B" movie.

The Fly tells the story of an eager scientist named Andre Delambre. He is happily married and has a son. He has the perfect suburban life. That all changes when he invents a device that can transport inanimate objects, but it has trouble transporting live matter. When he tries it on himself, a fly gets into the chamber with him, and their particles mix up giving Andre the head and arm of a fly, and giving the fly Andre's head and arm.

The Fly isn't an overly terrifying film, but the plot is really interesting. The film starts off as a murder mystery, and slowly evolves into a mix of sci fi and horror as we see the transformed Andre Delambre's mind slowly seep away while being replaced with the fly's. The make-up is really good for a 1950's movie, and it's almost believable that the scientist's head was replaced with a giant fly head.

The characters in the film are all portrayed by great actors of the time, such as David "Al" Hedison as Andre/The Fly and horror master Vincent Price as Andre's brother Francois. The Fly offers up good acting and a great plot and should be recognized for its artistic effect on movies. If you're looking for a classic to watch, pick this up.

7/10

"The Fly," directed by Kurt Neumann and released in 1958, stands as a timeless science fiction classic that seamlessly weaves suspense, horror, and tragedy into a compelling narrative. This iconic film, based on a short story by George Langelaan, explores the consequences of scientific curiosity gone awry and remains a benchmark in the annals of classic horror cinema.

The plot centers around the brilliant scientist André Delambre, portrayed by David Hedison, who becomes the victim of his own groundbreaking teleportation experiment. The film unfolds as André's wife, Helene, played by Patricia Owens, recounts the chilling events leading to her husband's gruesome demise to André's brother, François (Vincent Price). The narrative structure, with its flashback-driven storytelling, adds an air of mystery and anticipation, heightening the film's overall tension.

Vincent Price delivers a stellar performance as François Delambre, bringing a perfect blend of sympathy and unease to the role. His on-screen presence is captivating, and he skillfully conveys the conflicting emotions of a grieving brother seeking the truth behind André's tragic fate.

The practical effects used to portray André's metamorphosis are a testament to the creativity of the filmmakers of the era. The gradual revelation of the horrifying consequences of the teleportation experiment is both shocking and morbidly fascinating. The iconic "fly head" remains an indelible image in the history of cinematic horror, a testament to the film's impact on the genre.

"The Fly" is not merely a creature feature; it delves into deeper themes of the ethical implications of scientific experimentation and the unforeseen consequences of playing with the laws of nature. The film raises poignant questions about the limits of human knowledge and the dangers of tampering with forces beyond our understanding.

The atmospheric score composed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter enhances the film's mood, contributing to its overall sense of foreboding. The use of shadows and lighting, classic elements of film noir, further heightens the tension and adds a layer of sophistication to the movie.

While some aspects of the film may appear dated to modern audiences, "The Fly" remains a compelling and thought-provoking cinematic experience. Its enduring legacy is evident in the numerous adaptations and references it has inspired over the decades. The 1958 version of "The Fly" continues to captivate audiences, reminding us that even in the realm of science fiction, there are moral lessons to be learned from the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition.