The Fly

Seth Brundle is a driven scientist who invents a pair of teleportation devices he calls telepods, and Veronica Quaife, a magazine reporter, starts following his trials. After a major breakthrough, Brundle opts to use the device on himself, unaware that a housefly has contaminated the pod during the transfer, causing their genetic material to combine. At first the changes are subtle, even exhilarating, as Brundle's research and confidence surge. Gradually those alterations become more pronounced, affecting his body, his mind, and the fragile relationship that forms between him and Veronica. The story watches the transformation unfold, keeping tension tight as science and intimacy collide without revealing how it all ends.

Directed by David Cronenberg and adapted from George Langelaan's short story, the screenplay credits include Charles Edward Pogue among others; the film was released in 1986 and stars Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis in central roles.

The Fly won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, recognizing the film's prosthetics and creature work, and its practical effects were widely honored across genre award circuits. That technical recognition helped the movie stand out in mainstream awards conversations for its physical effects.

The movie left an indelible mark on pop culture, thanks to its stark imagery of a human-insect hybrid and a handful of memorable lines that entered public parlance. Its visuals and the term "Brundlefly" have been referenced in other films, TV shows, and even music, and its transformation scenes remain a touchstone for body horror fans and effects artists.

Critics and audiences reacted strongly, reflected in a user vote average of 7.425/10. Reviewers praised Jeff Goldblum's unpredictable performance and the film's willingness to confront the physical consequences of experimental science. Major themes include the ethics of unchecked research, identity under physical change, and how intimacy complicates scientific ambition.