VHS Vault: The Fly (1986)

 

“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Slide this one off the dusty VHS shelf and prepare for a mix of science, tragedy, and grotesque body horror. The Fly (1986) is David Cronenberg’s unnerving blend of science fiction and horror, where Jeff Goldblum’s scientist, Seth Brundle, loses himself in the name of discovery.

He thinks he’s on the verge of a breakthrough with teleportation… until one tiny fly changes everything. Mutation, transformation, and hair-raising practical effects turn this rental into a “don’t watch alone” experience that still creeps under your skin decades later.

Vault Fact File

• Title: The Fly
• Year: 1986
• Director: David Cronenberg
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Rating: R
• Tagline(s): “Be afraid. Be very afraid.” / “The ultimate man-to-monster story.”
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Cast Highlights: Jeff Goldblum as the doomed Brundle, Geena Davis as the sweetly unsuspecting Veronica, and John Getz as the doomed colleague. Goldblum’s charm makes the horror hit even harder.
• Special FX Magic: Chris Walas’s practical effects were groundbreaking; from Brundle’s first grotesque mutations to the horrifying final form, it’s body horror perfection on VHS.
• Fun Vault Trivia: Goldblum and Cronenberg spent hours in prosthetics to achieve the mutation effects, some so realistic that crew members fainted on set. This tape turned nightmares into an art form.

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

Rewind. If you love horror that creeps under your skin while making you feel for the monster, this one’s a must-play. Tragic, creepy, and visually unforgettable, The Fly is a VHS classic that still makes you squirm in the best possible way.

⚡ Watch It

You can stream The Fly on Max or Shudder, rent it on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV, or snag the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray for that glorious practical effect experience in high definition.

Official Trailer for The FLy

Back to the Vault: Want more VHS horrors? Check out our last tape, The Thing (1982), and see what other nightmares lurk in the shadows of the Vault.