Buzzed and Confused: How The Fly became a Classic Horror Icon

Sitting in the Dark

Hey there, horror fans! We’re back in the basement where we're talking all things The Fly. How did this underdog of a movie become such a success? And seriously, how does a movie about a man turning into a fly work so well on the screen?

We're taking a trip back in time to the 1950s when paranoia and fear were all the rage after the A-bomb and World War II. We're also exploring the 1980s when Reagan and the AIDS epidemic were in full swing. Let's just say the political and cultural context of each era definitely influenced the movies. We’re digging into performances like Patricia Owens' impressive work despite having an insect phobia while filming, Jeff Goldblum's iconic turn as Seth Brundle, and Eric Stoltz's weirdly on-brand turn in The Fly II.

David Cronenberg's direction made the movie his own, and we're discussing how the creature design worked in each film. Plus, did you know that The Fly (1958) was actually in color? We fully Mandella’d ourselves. It’s weird, y’all. There be color here.

Join us for a discussion about the compatibility of horror and sci-fi and why The Fly continues to give us chills even after all these years.

Curious to check out the short story that started it all? Check it out here!

• (00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark
• (08:21) - The Fly, the Story, and Playboy Magazine
• (20:42) - Technophobia
• (23:55) - What makes this scary?
• (27:55) - The Fly II
• (36:41) - The Monsters
• (44:01) - The Women
• (48:04) - The Sequels
• (51:57) - Where you can watch 'em.
• (53:35) - Coming Attractions

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Pete
• Kyle
• Tommy
• Kynan

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.