The Fly II (1989)

Here’s a movie that actually seems to have grown on me through subsequent viewings. However, I still view it as a completely unnecessary sequel to an otherwise perfect film. Here we find that Brundlefly’s offspring (Eric Stoltz) has survived and suffers from an accelerated rate of growth. The first hour or so is interesting, but then gets kind of ridiculous in the last 30 minutes as the movie starts resembling Alien. Overall, I feel it undercuts the emotional resonance of the original and just seems more cruel than humane this time around.

2.5 mutated gene splices out of 5

The Fly (1986)

This is such a defining movie for me. Jeff Goldblum is perfectly cast as Seth Brundle (aka, Brundlefly), the scientist that toys around with teleportation pods, with expectedly horrifying results. With gory make-up effects that would make Beetlejuice and The Terminator proud. You relate so well with the character that it becomes much more than a horror movie as you’re taken through the wringer with him on that tremulous physical and pathological breakdown. It’s like watching a train wreck and there’s nothing you can do about it. That just makes it all the more tragic and unbearable to watch, and that ending never fails to make me cry, every time. Cronenberg’s masterpiece, as far as I’m concerned.

5 "relics" in Brundlefly's medicine cabinet out of 5