The Fly (1958)

"It'd be funny if life wasn't so sacred.", 14 October 2007

To begin with, I'm going to skip the normal plot summary. Most people probably know it anyway - a scientist has a horrific accident and turns himself into half man, half fly. And please don't misunderstand what I'm writing – I like and enjoy The Fly. My rating should be proof of that. But am I alone in thinking that The Fly may be a bit overrated? Actually, the term "overrated" is probably the wrong word as I'm not talking about the movie's rating per se. What I mean, is there anyone who cares that is not familiar with the movie or some of the more iconic images from The Fly whether they've seen the movie or not? Sure the movie is great once the creature makes an appearance, but for 2/3 of the film, it's pure melodrama of the worst kind.

Another question I have regarding The Fly, why is this seemingly one of Vincent Price's most beloved movies? He's neither villain nor hero – he's just there. So why all the acclaim for Vincent Price when it come to The Fly? I don't get it.

But what I do understand about The Fly is that regardless of my problems and questions, it's a fun movie that never fails to entertain. The acting is solid and the movie looks great. The Fly actually features some real atmosphere. And I find the unmasking scene second only to the one in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) as far as iconic scenes of this type go. Finally, I'm a huge fan of the special effects. Whether it's the fly's head on the human body or the human head on the fly's body, the special effects are a blast.

7/10