THE FLY (1986)
Starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis
Cronenbrg's breakthrough horror hit brought him into the mainstream and gave him the clout to make what would become his greatest movie ever, "Dead Ringers."
"The Fly" is a slick, accessible, scary, high-budget remake of the classic Vincent Price film of the same name. Like most Cronenberg films, it's all about human decay.
Goldblum plays a scientist who has just invented a device that can teleport living beings from one place to another. After successfully testing the device on an animal he uses himself as a human guinea pig, teleporting himself from one place to another. At first, it seems like everything went according to plan. He even feels euphoric and stronger after the experience. As his narcissism increases, his girlfriend (Davis) gets worried. What he didn't realize is that a fly had been in the transporter with him. His DNA melded with the fly's and now he's slowly transforming into a human-sized fly.
The film is an obvious metaphor for drug addiction. As Goldblum becomes more and more amazed by his newfound strength, Davis finds it harder and harder to convince him about the seriousness of his situation. When she becomes pregnant with his fly-child, things just get more interesting. This film was made at the height of Cronenberg's career, after "Dead Zone" and before his masterpiece, "Dead Ringers." This is also his most commercially accessible movie.
Cronenberg wisely chose not to be involved in the unwatchable sequel, "Fly II."