Review - Kurt Neumann's The Fly

Fig.1 'The Fly poster'

 If you were to sit down in a theatre not knowing what happens or what the general idea is in this film you would be pretty confused for the first half of this film. The opening sequence of the movie, shows the ‘caretaker/ security guard’ finding a woman beside a stamping press with the remains of a mans head and arm beneath the press. This has set the theme for a shallow based detective story however; you know the identity of the ‘killer’ so you know that must be something more to film.

 Fig.2 'You cant see me like this'

Throughout the duration of the film there is barely ten minutes where you won’t hear the sound of a fly buzzing somewhere in the scene. The lady of the house (Helene) becomes very distressed whenever there is a fly in the room, “Don’t swat the fly!” 

Fig.3 'Andre reveals'

Once Helene’s husband (Andre) becomes a part fly, part human hybrid, the pace of the film changes very quickly. Progressing towards the scene that shows the hydraulic press coming down onto the head and arm of Andre. The idea of wanting to play god is evident in films in this genre, especially as Andre is supposedly taking the role of god to benefit humanity.

Directed by: Kurt Newmann

Screen Play by: James Clavell

Based on short novel by: George Langelaan

Duration: 89 Minutes (aprox)

Year released: 1958

List of Illustrations: 

 Fig.1 'The Fly poster'

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa203/ababaioff/fly.jpg

 Fig.2 'You cant see me like this'

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR8ffOOD5K6SBzfsWUbfK79rdgGf_zJQYx4Rm1IeMKfADThCzLemGxPO7ThA_6GOv0UNCMi4bmPvOtlfiQX2ZTc6fmZWynja8VJXDgL2bAoqAZve_2wEfx9wg4C_tTpLL3PVrQxTgqA/s640/the+fly+1958.jpg

Fig.3 'Andre reveals'

http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/wp-content/uploads/TheFly1958.jpg