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Late to the Party: The Fly (1986)

Published

8 years ago

August 24, 2016

Truth be told, a traditional Late to the Party this was not. It wasn’t that I’d never seen The Fly, only that after the passage of more than a decade, I simply hadn’t the faintest recollection of David Cronenberg’s hit save the general plot or that it starred Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis.

Beyond that (and Patti Pauley’s eloquent love letter for the film’s 30th anniversary), however, I went into The Fly with fresh eyes, and can say that what I enjoyed most was its simplicity. Cronenberg focused on the characters rather than spectacular feats made possible by Goldblum’s new “spidey senses,” a decision which, for my money, made a ridiculous premise work.

For those who don’t know, Goldblum played Seth Brundle, a brilliant yet reclusive scientist on the verge of perfecting teleportation. Brundle meets journalist Veronica Quaife (Davis) and the story goes from Quaife believing Brundle to be a flake to wanting to break the story of a lifetime to falling for the quirky expert. Enter the literal fly in the ointment and Brundle discovers that he had been genetically fused with a fly which happened to land in the telepod during an experiment and you have the catalyst for the film.

Goldblum was absolutely brilliant as Brundle. Let’s be honest, who can pull off eagerly energetic while socially awkward better than Jeff Goldblum?

Rest assured, a character such as Brundle is not an easy one to pull off. That said, Goldblum nailed the oddball aspect of Brundle’s pre-fly infestation personality, but had the dramatic chops to convince as the aggressive and impatient “Dr.-Ian-Malcolm-on-crack” post-metamorphosis. Goldblum possessed the innocent, inquisitive charm of magician David Copperfield (check the hair and you’ll be sure to agree), but the nature of a character searching for answers required an actor who was incapable of speaking without thinking. Name an actor more adept at appearing to have had his lines pop into his head seconds before he blurts them and I’ll show you a liar.

The chemistry between Goldblum and Davis was undeniable. The intellectual and playful banter and staging of their own fusion was paced seamlessly, and thanks to the aforementioned fleshing out of their respective characters, plausibly.

And thank whatever God you pray to Cronenberg was unable to utilize CGI for The Fly because to an old schooler like me, practical effects will always win the day. The make-up and effects were minimalist and when teamed with the story and performances of Goldblum and Davis, allowed The Fly to remain a horror film with heart rather than teetering into a cheesy tale that didn’t know when to quit.

Fly At its essence the film documents the slow but steady destruction of both characters. Goldblum psychologically and physically and Davis emotionally. Davis matches Goldblum’s skill throughout as a woman who find herself torn between saving the man she loves and fear for her own safety. Again, the pacing is spot on because neither Goldblum nor Davis slide too far too soon. Instead, they deteriorate progressively, and what’s more, believably until each reaches a point of no return.

In the middle is Stathis Borans (John Getz), Davis’ ex-boyfriend as well as editor of her magazine. Though he plays the role of jilted and jealous douche bag to perfection, Getz’s arc is an odd one because he ends up the hero of the film. Piggish advances and the type of sexually harassing power plays that you read about are replaced with genuine concern and finally, the resolve necessary to do what must be done.

The Fly is a movie to savor as it unfolds. There was no need to fill in blanks that were best left to the imagination, and I cannot bestow enough praise upon Cronenberg that the flick ended exactly when it should have.

Along the way, one of my favorite Goldblum deliveries made an appearance and I can guarantee I’ll be actively looking to drop “You got it, alright. You just can’t handle it” at my first opportunity. Not to mention a baboon, gymnastics routine, the mouthwatering combination of chocolate and scotch, a War Games moment and a larvae nightmare.

With smatterings of horror, drama and humor, The Fly offers a little something for everyone and is damn fun to watch.

Oh, and one final thought before signing off: The Fly was a remake.

The original was released in 1958. Cronenberg’s version was a re-imagining. Much like John Carpenter’s The Thing. And Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead. So do me a favor, keep that in mind before pontificating about the sanctity of classics. Not all remakes turn out, but once in a while, new artists pick up the ideas of others and pull it off.

Be sure to check back for next week’s Late to the Party when we drop a mystery flick on ya.

Telepod

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Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

2 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

22 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.