The Fly 2 (1989), much maligned and undeservedly so.
If the horror genre offers nothing else, it offers sequels like no other. However, David Cronenberg, doesn’t do sequels. Never fear, 20th Century Fox’s money-making gore machine never lets a great sequel slip through its fingers. David Croneberg’s remake of the 1958 sci-fi classic, The Fly (1986) simply couldn’t be left without a reprise.
The Fly 2 – What’s Not to Like About the Plot?
The story picks up just months after the demise of Seth Brundle. Veronica Quaith lies on the birthing table, this time played by Saffron Henderson. Stanith Borans, played again by Stan Getz, looks on as the medical team delivers a giant embryo shaped chrysalis. Anton Bartok watches intently as the “thing” is delivered. Inside the chrysalis, by all outward appearance, is a healthy baby boy. Veronica’s EKG flatlines.
Fast forward several years. Martin Brundle (Harley Cross) looks like a normal 10 year old. The issue… he’s only 3 years old. Martin’s growth factors age him at an incredible pace. Much like his father he possesses an incredible intellect. Anton Bartok (Lee Richardson) serves as Martins father figure. Anton’s story is that he wants to fill the void left by the death of Seth Brundle.
Martin continues to age into the body of a 25 year old (Eric Stoltz). Unsurprisingly, Anton Bartok doesn’t intend to fill the emotional hole left in Martin, he means fill the hole in his company. Bartok Industries needs Martin’s help refining Seth’s telepod design.
Along the way, the story offers more than enough breathing room to accommodate Martin’s transformation into a 185 pound fly.
The script, while not necessarily earth shattering, maintains continuity while simultaneously creating new road to travel. Written by Jim and Ken Wheat, Mick Garris and Frank Darabont, the screenplay tells solid story that possesses all of the necessary elements to continue the series.
Standing in the Shadow of Giants
Directed the special effects mastermind behind The Fly (1986), Chris Walas didn’t have much of a chance at a fair trial. He knew, and everyone knew, that he was no David Cronenberg. However, this film deserves to be judged as an individual work and not in the shadow of its predecessor. I will server as a champion of this notion.
It’s true that Chris Walas’ sequel doesn’t have the panache of Cronenberg’s classic, but his film has a heart. It’s true that the sequel doesn’t have the off-the chain performance of Jeff Goldblum, but it has an endearing role by Eric Stoltz. It’s true that The Fly 2 lags behind in the award worthy special effects, but it ups the gore quotient as a consolation prize.
It’s true, The Fly 2 fails to measure up to the greatness of its predecessor, but it’s honestly a really entertaining movie with enough emotional content to carry the film.
Anton and Martin celebrate Martin’s 5th birthday
Eric Stoltz – Not Jeff Goldbum, But…
Eric Stoltz’s performance as Martin Brundle unfairly gets compared to Jeff Goldblum’s masterwork on the first film. In truth, Eric Stoltz’s performance offers everything that it designed to provide by creating a sympathetic emotional center.
In The Fly (1986), Seth Brundle provided the architecture for his own demise. Martin never asked for any of this. In fact, he really just wanted to be a boy. Eric Stoltz perfectly embodies and affable and innocent boy inhabiting a body much to large for his emotional fortitude. He springs to life over the simple things in life. This makes his character likable, vulnerable and human.
Daphne Zuniga plays Beth Logan. She provides a much better love interest that Geena Davis. She at least brings a modicum of charisma and her own childish approach that gives their relationship a believable spark. Their relationship, above all, feels authentically human.
Straight-Up Monster Jam
The story follows the science-fiction formula, but it lacks the novelty and cleverness that made Cronenberg’s version so great. It presents itself as a more standard monster movie with body horror rather than a body horror movie that ends with a monster. Regardless, Walas rewards with audience with another nuanced body-horror transformation.
The story revisits that idea that this transformation is a blessing and a curse. As the transformation moves father along, the subjects willingness to let it happen grows. In a fantastic bit of monologue Martin says:
Until now I’ve been nothing more than an open wound. Defenseless, weak, vulnerable. Don’t you see, I’m healing… I’m healing. It wasn’t clear to me for a long time.
<Martin pulls out his eyeball>
I can see so much better now.
— Martin Brundle
Chris Walas – Upping the Gore Quotient
Having taken over the Director’s chair, Walas split duties with his staff at Chris Walas Inc for special effects. Many point out that the special effects experience a drop-off between the two films. It’s an arguable point, but this distinction is hardly worth calling out.
Martin’s fly form loses much of the fleshy humanity that his father’s monster possessed. The former design exudes emotion and sadness. Martin feels more like a 50′ Sci-Fi bug monster. The design isn’t bad, but it certainly doesn’t have the same impact.
This design does suggest a cool dichotomy in Brundlefly morphology. The former monster is a man that changed into a fly because fly genetics were spliced into his adult body. This creates a corrosive cancer that must literally destroy the former form before progressing into its final form.
The second Brundlefly receives this genetic material through conception. This allows Martin to experience the full lifecycle of a Brundlefly. Martin is born in an egg sac. That sac reveals a larvae, the human form of Martin Brundle. That larvae then advances to the pupa stage allowing Martin to mature into his final insect form.
Those that came for the red stuff will not be disappointed. In fact Walas doubles down on the digestive enzyme idea in face-melting glory. The man lies on the ground still breathing as his face forms a puddle around his dissolving skull. Then there is the totally gratuitous elevator head crusher for those still wanting more.
A Worthy Successor to a Classic Remake
— Ryan Lambie, Den of Geek
That statement really sums it up well. The Fly 2 is a really solid horror when judged objectively and in it’s own right. Certainly, David Cronenberg’s version is a classic. While the Fly 2 is inferior, it’s a better than the average Hollywood horror sequel by a country mile.
Anyone with a hankering for sci-fi horror, will find something to love about this film.
The Fly 2 (1989) - It Ain't Cronenberg, But It's Pretty Damn Good - Malevolentdark
Director: Chris Walas
Date Created: 1970-01-01 00:33