31 In 31: The Fly

As soon as I start the 31 In 31, I get really sick. I apologize for not providing a review a day as initially stated, but I will throw out 2 horror films today to make up for yesterday. Sound good?

David Cronenberg's 1986 remake stars Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, an eccentric scientist who has developed transportation telepods. Journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis) is won over by Seth's personality and his showcasing of how the telepods work.

Initially, the telepods are unable to transport living items; resulting in grotesque results. Seth continues to work with the teleportation sequence until he figures out how to transport living things from one telepod to the other. Being the eccentric and gung-ho scientist he is, Seth decides to be his own guinea pig and teleports himself. Unbeknownst to him, a fly is also in the pod with him and both Seth and the fly are teleported.

Upon emerging from his teleportation, Seth has renewed energy and shares it with Veronica. Eventually, though, some of the fly's characteristics begin to show. Early on, Seth begins sprouting small hairs, has an insatiable love for sugar and begins losing his fingernails. Initially believing himself to have a form of cancer from the teleportation, Seth eventually realizes that his DNA and the DNA from the fly have merged. Now Seth has to race against time to try and find a way to cure himself before it's too late.

The 1986 version of The Fly is a major factor as to why I am not entirely against remakes. Along with Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and The Thing (1982), The Fly is how a remake should be done. David Cronenberg took the general idea of the 1958 film and took it into an entirely different direction. Instead of having a man with a fly head, as is done in the '58 version, Cronenberg took the idea of fusing DNA and watching Seth morph into a fly.

There really isn't much that can be said about this film that hasn't been said before. If you haven't seen this film, it is a must see. The make-up effects by Chris Walas are so well done and very deserving of an Academy Award and Jeff Goldblum gives a once-in-a-career performance. His ticks and mannerisms as Seth Brundle showcase an actor giving a great performance.

If you are a fan of horror or David Cronenberg, this is a must-see. The Fly is a great mold on how to do a remake right.