Meredith and Greg delve into the 1986 film 'The Fly' directed by David Cronenberg, exploring its themes of body horror, transformation, and the complexities of relationships. They discuss the film's opening, character dynamics, and the implications of the protagonist's transformation into a fly. The conversation also touches on the metaphorical aspects of aging and disease, the nature of the monster, and the performance of Jeff Goldblum. The hosts critique the film's world-building and reflect on the impact of body horror as a genre. The conversation turns to the differences between empathy and sympathy. They discuss the relatability of body horror and how anxiety manifests in horror films. They close on the misrepresentation of gaslighting, the impact of male creators in storytelling, and the evolution of Jeff Goldblum's persona in film.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to The Fly and Its Themes
03:00 Exploring Body Horror and Character Dynamics
06:12 The Transformation and Its Consequences
09:04 The Role of Relationships and Jealousy
11:56 The Climax and the Nature of the Monster
14:56 Metaphors of Aging and Disease
18:11 The Ending and Its Implications
20:53 Reflections on Performance and Humor
24:03 Critique of World-Building in The Fly
26:51 Body Horror as a Genre and Its Impact
34:04 Exploring Body Horror and Relatability
36:51 Empathy vs. Sympathy
39:39 Anxiety in Horror and the Cringe Factor
42:45 Gaslighting: Misunderstandings and Definitions
46:44 The Complexity of Male Creators and Their Impact
52:53 The Evolution of Jeff Goldblum's Persona
01:00:45 Reflections on Fame and Identity
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
