Customer Reviews

Return of the Fly [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an interesting sequel to 1958's "The Fly." Brydon Baker's black & white photography gives it a feel of film noir instead of science fiction. Both Vincent Price and Bret Halsey turn in believable performances. This can be attributed to Director Edward Bernds' choice to concentrate on characterization over the science fiction elements, which had also been effectively accomplished in the original. John Sutton as Inspector Charas turned in his best performance since 1952's "Five Fingers." The score by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter was very effective to the mood of the piece. This is an excellent and highly underrated film.

The original "Fly" is in widescreen and in color, and when Bad Things begin to happen, the creamy production values and posh suburban settings give the horror a disturbing power. What's really creepy about "The Fly" is watching the hero Andre trying to hang on to his humanity as it slowly ebbs away. "Return of the Fly," the pissant sequel, was obviously filmed quickly on a "B" budget and goes in for obvious horror movie effects: thunderstorms, funerals, and really big spider webs in the old abandoned la-bore-a-tory. When you think about it, you can't blame those spiders, though, can you? The plot has son Phillippe attempting to vindicate Andre's work by attempting The Exact Same Experiment... naturally The Exact Same Thing happens. By the time Phillippe is lumbering through the countryside looking for payback (and maybe a Dunkin Donuts), the movie has moved firmly and forever into high camp; Vincent Price obliges with a truly outrageous last closeup. "The Fly" is almost a masterpiece, but you'll want a swatter handy for the sequel.

David Hedison's character is dead, but his son returns in the form of actor Bret Halsey. Halsey follows in his father's footsteps. Vincent Price returns and reluctantly helps Halsey with the experiments. This is not a bad sequel but its black & white photography and plot about stealing scientific research secrets, which was ahead for its time, sets it apart from the original.

The Return of the Fly is 78 minutes long and was released August 1959. This film was shot in black and white to save on costs. Also with this Fly, his head is bigger and his left arm and right leg are part of a fly. In the original only the head and left arm are parts of the fly. With the fly only the head of the human is showing; the right leg and left arm are missing. The story is set fifteen years in the future. The movie starts off with the funeral of Helene DeLambre. Her son Philippe DeLambre and his Uncle François DeLambre are at the funeral. On the way home Philippe pressure his Uncle François to tell him the truth about the death of his father. François takes Philippe to his father's laboratory and tells Philippe the whole story. Philippe wants to continue in his father work. Francois is against it. Philippe and his friend Alan Hinds construct a new lab in the basement of Philippe's grandfather home. Alan decides to sell the plans to the black market. Philippe corners Alan in the lab. A fight takes place and Philippe is knocked out and is put into the machine with a fly. When he re-emerges, he has the head, left arm and right leg of a fly. In the end he is returned to normal. Vincent Price is the only one from the original movie to reprise his role. I give this movie an A.

The film opens with Phillipe (now grown) at his mother's funeral. Phillipe asks his uncle (Vincent Price)what exactly happened to his father, but Price will not say. Phillipe is determined to continue his father's expieriments, so he hires an assistant and works day and night trying to complete the work. The problem is his assistant is a criminal bent on stealing Phillipe's work and selling it on the underground. The assistant knocks out Phillipe and throws him into the dis-integration chamber with a fly, pulls the switch and, well, like father, like son. Good sequel holds onto science aspests of first film instead of just concentrating on the monster. The acting is very strong for the genre and the stark black and white photography really helps create a mood for this film. The first film is better,but this one is worth seeing too.