This Jeff Goldblum Horror Has Damaged Me in a Way That Even The Exorcist Couldn’t

Body horror makes my skin crawl in a deeply unsettling, visceral way. That is exactly the reason why I have a very love-hate relationship with it. There's something about it that gets deep into our most primal fears.

For years, The Exorcist held the crown for my personal nightmare fuel. And I think this classic remains undefeated for many. After surviving that ordeal, I thought I had built up an immunity. But I was wrong. Very wrong.

This David Cronenberg masterpiece undeniably takes the crown for the best and the most unsettling body horror for me.

The Fly (1986) Merges Shocking Horror and Tragic Romance

When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum ) steps into his own teleportation device, he doesn't know yet that a little fly can change the whole trajectory of his life course. And he surely doesn't know that he's about to become the subject of the most gut-wrenching transformation ever put to film.

The Fly puts all of its character through emotional and physical hell. The transformation sequences are simultaneously fascinating and repulsive. The cast does such a great job, you start to wish they didn't, so there was a slight moment of relief.

Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis are particularly phenomenal. They are the ones who made the whole situation even more heartbreaking. Their relationship felt so real that when things start going south, you're not only grossed out, you become emotionally invested in their unfortunately absolutely tragic love story.

The Fly Is The Emotional Gut Punch Nobody Warned Me About

I wasn't prepared for how this film would affect me emotionally. The scene where Seth (already in his later stage transformation) explains to Veronica him becoming an insect is so heartbreaking. Watching someone slowly lose their humanity while being completely aware of it happening still gives me chills.

And that immersion is thanks to the practical effects as much as the great acting. In a GQ segment of breaking down his iconic roles, Jeff Goldblum said:

“Chris Walas, who won the Oscar for the makeup that he did, designed this thing. It was a very thoughtful and careful process and masterful and artful process.”

And that Oscar was very much deserved. The makeup makes you feel every excruciating moment of the transformation. Each stage of Brundle's metamorphosis is more disturbing than the last and is impossible to forget (I've tried).

So if it's been a long time since watching The Fly or you haven't yet given it a chance, you can find it right now on Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.