The Fly (1958) ~ Film Review

I have said it once, and I will repeat it; reviewing horror classics is difficult. Time changes everything and how we view a film in the present is not how it was considered in the past. Ultimately it is up to the critic to determine how they will interpret a movie. The only way I know how to watch a film is in the now. Ultimately, does a classic film mean as much as it did then as it did in 2015?

Rarely does a horror film translate perfectly, and The Fly is no exception. Beautiful cinematography and acting make this film strong technically, but the complete lack of fear generated by the movie results in a pretty unmemorable experience. The viewer is constantly reminded that the movie is “old,” which is not a fun thing to remember. Luckily, the plotline is enough to keep viewers interested. The film revolves around a genius scientist, Andre (David Hedison), ruining his experiments with matter transportation. Splicing genes from two different species is bound to end up in tragedy. The movie focuses on flashbacks, with the viewer attempting to figure out what happened from the jump and how Andre’s wife, Helene (Patricia Owens), is now under suspicion of murdering her husband. Of course, it wouldn’t be a classic horror movie without Vincent Price making an appearance. Sadly, the viewer isn’t privy to seeing him on screen as much as we hoped.

Many older films don’t hold up over time, so they naturally become “cult” classics. For me, a cult classic was either a film entirely missed by the general public and is genuinely impressive, or it…