The Fly (1986) ♦Movie Reaction♦ First Time Watching! 

"Why was I sad, though?" The Fly is one of the best tragic films. Seth Brundle was a good man who was doomed by happenstance and one simple mistake. Veronica was a good woman who didn't deserve such horror and suffering. We feel very much for both of them.

I love how Whimsory tends to break out into laughter/giggling when things get rough. It's like an adorable defense mechanism.

Here in the UK there was a children's program called "Blue Peter", its was shown at "tea time" ( 5 pm ) after school. They had a whole program dedicated to the special practical effects in the film having the main full Fly puppet in the studio. Chris Walas was interviewed and he explained how it was all done. That was my first introduction to the film and my brother rented it on VHS the following year because I kept going on about it. I was 10 the first time I saw it.... and it was awesome. Us 80's kids where made of the right stuff you know 😁

18:03 "I'm an insect who dreamt he was a man, and loved it. But now the dream is over." I like that line and Brundlefly's smile there.

I worked in a movie theater in the mid-80s and yeah a lot of people were not ready for it. 😄 If you consider that early-stage Brundlefly acts rather coked-up and that this was made in 1986, the film takes on a whole new meaning. Criminal that Goldblum didn't even get nominated for an Oscar.

The Fly is a tragic love story masquerading as a science fiction horror. There are just 3 characters and at least 90% of the movie takes place in 1 room, so you could argue that is more like a theatrical play rather than a traditional movie. An absolute masterpiece and I believe Cronenburg's finest hour.

This movie was in heavy rotation on HBO in 1987-88 when I was 11 years old. So, yes, kids did see it. We were scarred for life. And we LOVED it! 2023 has been a great year for 'The Fly' reactions and it never disappoints. Great job!

Its genuinely one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. The real life horror is watching someone you love turn into someone you don't recognize because they're subject to Alzheimer's or cancer or any sort of degenerative disease. I feel that's what the movie is an allegory for. "I'm an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it, but now that dream is over" rocks me to the core. I can watch all kinds of movies with no problem but The Fly, Come And See, and Grave Of The Fireflies are some of the few I can maybe watch once a decade, at best. I'm like you in that normally I can see gore and laugh at how crazy or morbidly humorous it is, but The Fly is just SAD.

I worked in a movie theater (GCC) in the summer of 1987, we ran special features to bring people in during the afternoon matinee when it was usually too nice out to see a movie. One special was a double feature of “The Fly” and “Aliens”… yes, parents brought their kids, we were different in the 80’s.

Whimsory is the most adorable human I've ever seen on RU-vid. Pre movie warnings was missing gore.

I was 15 when I saw this in the theatre. I am so happy my childhood happened when all the good movies came out.

The Fly is one of the best remakes in movie history. The three lead actors, Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz really help sell this tragic horror movie.

I knew you'd love The Fly! And, I knew you'd get the tragedy aspect. It is a heartbreaking film because we actually care about the characters. My friends and I saw this at the theater as teenagers and it not only blew our minds but it genuinely upset us on an emotional level. When it came to great horror movies that were also great films, the 80s were pretty amazing. Along with amazing practical effects of that period, and theaters having zero problem letting in a bunch of unaccompanied 13-year-old nerds - I feel so fortunate. :)

Your commentary/analysis at the end is always the best! If you want another Cronenberg body horror movie, Videodrome (1983) is a must. It's very layered, with a lot of social commentary on human use of technology, and is definitely a movie that needs a rewatch or two to fully absorb. It'd be perfect for your channel!

Your tastes aren't weird, Whimsory. This is a classic of sci-fi body horror. It's also a tragedy. Your reactions to it are spot-on. You're the best, dear!!! ❤️

One of the greatest body horror movies ever made.

It's such an interesting cautionary tale. Yes, there are lots of people who hate themselves and want to be someone else (myself included. I know, I know, I shouldn't. It's a constant battle). And towards the beginning of the transformation, it all seems incredibly positive. He's healthier, he's stronger, his shyness is gone... but it all starts going downhill. And it all snowballs so quickly... its very tragic.

The original movie is actually pretty horrifying in it's own 50's way. This version is a genius interpretation. The two are so different, but they are both also the same. Cronenberg definitely loves his body horror and he certainly sunk his teeth into this one. It's like he can't help it. The passion shows.

This film is a disturbing masterpiece, but it's exceptionally well-directed and produced. I watched this movie as a child and was quite frightened back then.

The Fly is easily in my top3 fav horror movies (up there with Alien and the Thing). I love how it combines and changes genre's, starts as sci-fi, moves to super-hero origin story before changing into fullblown bodyhorror and in the end it's a tragic love story whre the prince unwillingly changes into the beast. At the same time the creepy ex-boyfriend (who we all instantly disliked) redeems himself by turning into an unlikely saviour whos heroics did not leave him unscathed. I'm very glad you liked it too!

Be afraid Whimsory, be very afraid... 😉 Cronenberg is some of the best body horror out there. Scanners, Videodrome, and Naked Lunch are all weird in fantastic ways. He also adapts Steven King in The Dead Zone (with Christopher Walken), and made one of the most visceral and strange explorations of human trauma in Crash (1995).

Please watch Fly 2. The sequel is criminally underrated and has no right to be as good as it is. Great cast, great effects and surprisingly heartfelt story.

Appreciate all the effort you put into editing these, and taking the time to really give in-depth thoughts after! ❤

I thought that was brilliant that you applied JG's character's words from Jurassic Park to Seth Brundle! I'm so glad you loved this movie! ❤️

Can't personally choose between The Fly or Alien as my number 1 favourite horror movie, they are both the pinnacle of the genre. 10/10 for me. Good video!

Now imagine it’s 1987. Your 9 years old and you parents rented this for movie night. I watched a lot of horror movies back then as a kid, but this is the only one that grossed me out. It was a relief for me to see Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park because the image I had of him for years was as a fly.

"Why was I sad, though?" Perfect reaction.

"Scientistical" Never change, Whimsory. Superb reaction and review, as always.

Oh that's nice that you're back. Was getting a bit concerned there by your absence. 😊 Can't go wrong with Jeff Goldblum and even less wronger (sic) with Geena Davis. LOL

Yes, Jeff Goldblum is playing the piano by himself for real. He is an accomplished jazz piano player.

always a happy ending when Whimsory enjoys a movie plus viewers have the honor being a fly 🪰on the wall during her movie reaction

Whimsory's Signature Move: Putting up the hands and saying "NO".... 👍👍

0:37 "Rated R for alcohol use and smoking??" Boy, we grew up in such graphic times watching Bugs Bunny cartoons where characters were smoking or drinking all the time. How soft we've become LOL

This is by far my favourite Jeff Goldblum film and both he and Geena Davis were brilliant. Jeff going from this awkward, meek but incredibly likeable man, to insanely mad scientist and finally a literal monster. Ironic that creepy stalker ex Stathis ends up being the hero in the end. Poor Seth- all he wanted was to create a revolutionary form of travel because he suffered from motion sickness.

And the movie has one of the best lines ever, "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

It's not often that I only listen to a reaction, rather than watch it.

"...like two limbs earlier." 😂

Imagine if we got a Spider-Man movie from this director? How nuts would that have been?

that final scene, when he puts the shotgun on his head, always breaks my heart. Goldblum definitely deserved that Oscar, or at least a nomination. after "The Thing", I think this is the second best remake ever

The music is incredible in this movie. Brilliant work by Howard Shore.

"What would Gordon Ramsey say?" "It's f*cking RAW!!" 😁 👍

Hello Whimsory! Perfect Halloweeny type movie for you to react to. This is basically a horror/Greek tragedy. I hope you enjoyed. :D

For more of Jeff and Geena - Earth Girls Are Easy, with a young Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans.

I was 13 when it came out in theaters, and some of my friends (the youngest was 10) and I went to watch it. We loved it, and saw it several times.

Geena Davis: We could take a holiday. You: Let´s teleport there. That was a great line for you. Made me smile :D

The Fly 2 is one of the best part 2s ever , in my opinion. It also has one of the saddest scenes in movie history, it will break your heart.

I actually laugh a lot at horror movies too, for me I don't usually think of it as real and don't really put myself in the movie. In your words it's just "gnarly" and it makes me laugh and think that practical effect was amazing.

Whimsory with another winner of a reaction. And yes, I was an 80s kid that watched this back in the day. The tequila worm baby from Poltergeist II still freaked me out more.

Me and my wife just re-watched this yesterday for the first time in a very long time(for me probably since it was released), and it really is one of the best in the genre. Amazing performances from both leads, and just an overall great film, and those practical effects had me turning my head in several scenes. LOL

Each time you said "I hope he doesn't get any worse", I chuckled.

I don't remember how old I was when I saw this, but I think it MUST have been pre-teen. Riding my bicycle to the local video store, as I so often did throughout the 90s, I stumbled upon this gem. Jeff Goldblum was already a favorite of mine, from Jurassic Park, so I just HAD to rent this. I watched it many times before I returned that tape. I loved it so much. The imagery of his ear falling off, and him slowly peeling his nail off, left an indelible mark. Easily the grossest thing I've ever seen, even now.

Oh yeah🐺Good choice.👍🏼 I have the uncut version on bluray

Hey Whimsory, that was a really fun and creative edit. And I was not asking why you were laughing! It's a horror movie, even a sad horror movie is funny. It's a movie about a guy who turns into a fly, I mean how serious are you supposed to take it, it's not "Sophie's Choice" or "The Deer Hunter"! (if you haven't seen those, let's just say they're just as sad but a little more rooted in realism, to put it mildly!) But "The Fly" is great (both versions!) and so was this reaction! Great job! All the little cat shots that you quickly inserted in, and you had me laughing many times, just with your edit. Sax music playing, that cracked me up. See you on the next one!

"fly you fool!" - Gandolf the gray

So happy you enjoyed it so much!

"This is already bad enough." Oooooh boy... 😁 "I'm an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over... and the insect is awake." A brilliantly executed heart-breaking tragedy with some stunning practical effects and amazing performances by all the actors (Jeff Goldblum definitely deserved at least an Oscar nomination if not a win, but I guess it was the "wrong" kind of movie), and an unexpected hero of sorts in the end. I love this movie, but yes it's not the best to get in a fun mood.

" You could have stepped in earlier. Like 2 limbs earlier" lol line of the night

Jeff and Geena were a married couple for a while IRL. Both charming in the extreme, almost as much as Whimsory herself.

This movie came out the week I turned 17. I don't remember if I saw it in a theater, but I did record it from HBO later on ... and I wore that tape out! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie! One of my all-time favorites! 🤩 The sequel is ok, but don't expect it to be as good as this!!!

Your mans out here looking rough. Like a raisin with eyes...and sentience. Great reaction!

Hey Wimsory. did you know that Howard Shore did a "The Fly" opera? Not a techno or rock opera, a full on opera with orchestra, operatic voicing and everything. I've seen clips. It's wild.

Yeah I saw this as an 80s kid. And because I really wanted to watch it, I had to be the one to let everyone else know when it was okay to look at the tv again. They all got sleep that night. I didn't. And every once in awhile, it will still haunt me in my dreams. Definitely recommend watching it as an adult.

Holy shit. I never noticed before, but the guy in the arm wresting scene is George Chuvalo. Legendary Canadian boxer. He went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali

I saw it on VHS as a kid in the 80’s and my friends and I loved it.

One of the grossest, yet darkly beautiful tragic love stories ever. I love tragedy and most chords played in the minor key (especially D), so this movie has remained a personal favourite for me since I was far too young to watch it. Sadness is an incredibly powerful human emotion, and I love stories that have a sense of pathos. It is the greatest stories that elicit real human emotion, and this one does that in so many different ways. What a monument to film-making and practical special effects.

Not even started watching and already thinking: aw, ye poor soul.

After the ape died. Imagine how much clean up you would do. So, his DNA isn't involved in the next teleportation. We could have: Human Ape Fly Mixture.

Oh you’re right about 80s kids. In fact I myself watched this one day when I was in the 5th grade, staying home sick that day. That was probably a year or so after the movie came out. Back then the home video releases were a lot slower to come out after the theatrical releases. I also saw Aliens and Predator under similar circumstances (I always liked to use up my maximum number of school sick days, lol).

As usual your analysis is spot on Whimsory. I'm glad you've realized that beyond horror the movie had a touching and tragic story. In such a short time you've become one of my favorite first time movie reaction content creators.

Geena Davis's effortless performance really drives home the pathos and makes it all the more gutting. And THANK you for talking about multiple viewings. I know some people as well as me that get asked why we would watch something once you've already seen it(!). I mean, it is a hard question to answer because I just want to ask, why wouldn't you? Not all, but definitely the good-to-excellent ones, for sure. If I don't have a craving once a year to revisit something I liked than, well, I don't know what to say.

Another great reaction, Whimsory! Always love your breakdown and extra research, too.

It won Best Makeup at the 1987 Academy Awards. The Maggot Birth Scene was on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

The Fly II isn't quite as good as this film, but is well worth watching. Warning: It includes bad things happening to a dog.

The 1st Fly film has Vincent Price in it. If you want a really, really good Vincent Price movie for your list, you should watch The Masque of the Red Death. It's a Roger Corman "horror" from 1964 with fantastic vivid colour and an odd story by E. A. Poe featuring the plague.

Recommend The Fly II - very underrated sequel.. .

Top tier practical effects hold up so well...kind of fun to see them outperform CGI from the same time periods.

I was a young kid of the '80s when this came out and I watched it. At the time, there was a lot of interest in special FX artists and their craft. It was fascinating to see what the next big magic show was going to be so the movies weren't so much scary, but you watched these movies and you went away happy, cause you got a good story, good characters and a great special FX magic show. It was that way with The Fly, The Thing, The Blob, etc. Of course, part of the fun was wondering how they did these things.

Thank you, another great reaction and analysis, elevated this time by a kitty quotient that was through the roof. 10/10

Your not weird, many people like movies for their awesome shock value. I like your sincerity and that you research the movies afterwards it adds allot to the narrative. So that makes you unique in your approach. Great movie, a classic horror. Not sure if you have seen all three evil dead movies, if you haven't, you would definitely get kick out of those.

Yet again, Whimsory delivers with a nuanced, thoughtful contemplation of what some people only think of as a "gross horror" film. She gets that this, at its core, is a tragedy. Everyone goes into this situation with the best intentions, but it turns out for the worst. I agree that the most heart-wrenching part was when the creature (it's neither human nor fly at that point, and it has a fair bit of the pod mixed in with it) pointed the shotgun at its own head. There's just enough of Seth left to realize he's too far gone and death is the best option.

You crack me up! "What would Gordon Ramsey say?" "It tastes like baboon!"

Love this movie. Seen it in theaters.

“Like two limbs ago”. Best line you had, Kid. Ahahaha

One of the greatest films I have ever seen, and I am not a horror fan AT ALL. My mom took me to see this for my 14th birthday, and I spent most of the runtime covering my eyes and listening to my mom scream in horror at the screen. It took me about 10 years to watch the movie in its entirety, and it became an instant favorite of mine. Tragedy, horror, dark comedy, and an incredible score. The sequel misses all the hallmarks of what made this one work.

I don't think you come across as cold in this personally, I think its normal to be taken aback and even thrilled by the shocking/astonishing visuals and quality of the special effects. Also at 22:01 if anything you actually look like you're actively trying to stop yourself from crying (I generally fail at this point personally! and also often at the point when he says he's forgetting he's human). I've seen a lot of reaction's to The Fly and most I've seen the people are actually less upset than you, I'm always surprised but most people are just done with Brundle by the end :(

Always enjoy your reactions. Her iconic line, “Be afraid. Be very afraid,” was actually suggested by the great Mel Brooks, who was an uncredited producer on the film. I think his company provided some financing. Oh, I’d highly suggest “Videodrome,” “The Dead Zone,” and “A History of Violence” for your next Cronenberg movies. They are three very different films, but do a great job of showing off his talents. Also, “Scanners,” since gross-out scenes make you crack up. 😀

Your Facial expressions are funny as hell!! Love ya work Whimsory.

Same as John Carpenter's The Thing, this is a remake of a 50's movie. In the original the transformation happens instantly and it build up to the reveal as the main character hides what happened while trying to reverse it. When the 80's rolled around, the standard of what spooky material was allowed were much more loose and the effects allowed for more gory stuff, so this time it's gradual body horror. The original is usually the one people spoof, like in The Simpsons or Johnny Bravo.

I like how much research you do and dig into the movies. Your hair is always really nice too!

19:16 - Bless you! 33:27 - Yeah, this one was a bitter pill to swallow. Paul Newman won for "The Color of Money," in which he was mediocre at best. But he was reprising the role of Eddie Telson from "The Hustler," in which people believed he was cheated from winning the Oscar. So it was very much a, "Oh, we're sorry. Here's your trophy for participating" kind of thing. Jeff Goldblum should have at least been nominated. But my personal opinion is that William Hurt should have won that year for "Children of a Lesser God". Wonderful viewing and review, Whimsory. Looking forward to your next one.

I laughed uncontrollably when you said "someone stop giving them monkeys".

2nd shift worker back then. Had to work half shift on Saturday. Came home late afternoon and flipped on the tv. Went to the kitchen for chips and dip. Started flipping channels, grabbed a chip and landed on HBO to a grotesque face vomiting on a box of doughnuts. Chip went back in bag, lid went back on dip. Headed back to the kitchen thinking "oh, this must be the fly". I remember it like it was yesterday.

You might like "Dagon" from 2001, IMO the best Lovecraft movie so far.

Part 2 is cool too🐺👍🏼 Brundles girlfriend has a son😊

Whimsory's first-born son will be named Stathis. 😁

If you liked this, I highly recommend From Beyond, Castle Freak, and Re-Animator. Pure 80s pulp scifi goopy messes. All three of these movies are based on HP Lovecraft stories.

The best thumbnail expression for reaction to The Fly!

I loved watching films like this as a kid. There is something about body horror that I find incredibly fascinating.

According to Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth the inspiration for Cronenberg's transformation of Brundle into the was heavily inspired by Cronenberg's seeing his mom dying from cancer. I think Cronenberg was off at college and every time he visited her she was like a different person wasting away that by the end she was basically a completely different person than what Cronenberg remembered.

Loving the Howard Shore appreciation! He’s scored almost all of Cronenberg’s films (the studio forced Cronenberg to use Michael Kamen for The Dead Zone). One of my favorite scores of Shore’s is the one for Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard. I can hear its influence on his scores for the LOTR trilogy.