David Cronenberg’s THE FLY (1986) Turns 40: The Greatest/Grossest Love Story Ever Told

THE FLY (1986) d. David Cronenberg (USA/Canada)
THE FLY II (1989) d. Chris Walas (USA/Canada)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

After years of building a reputation as a fiercely intelligent filmmaker that deftly combined gooey special effects, challenging technical concepts, and emotional narrative heft, Canadian David Cronenberg finally hit the jackpot in this updating and reimagining of the 1958 classic, THE FLY. Rather than the simple swapping of heads and hands, brainy inventor Seth Brundle (played to perfection by Jeff Goldblum) sees his transporter pods inadvertently become gene splicers when a wayward fly enters the equation.

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956–2007) - “They're Coming! They’re Here Already!”

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) d. Don Siegel (USA)
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978) d. Philip Kaufman (USA)
BODY SNATCHERS (1993) d. Abel Ferrara (USA)
THE INVASION (2007) d. Oliver Hirschbiegel (USA)

**CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE**

The theme of an alien entity occupying or replacing the bodies of those nearest and dearest to us had been utilized in horror cinema throughout features as plentiful and varied as Invaders from Mars, It Came from Outer Space, Planet of the Vampires, It Conquered the World, I Married a Monster from Outer Space, The Stepford Wives, The Thing, The Faculty, and many more. But it is producer Walter Wanger’s 1956 production of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by Don Siegel, and starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, which has come to exemplify the concept.

JURASSIC PARK (1993) 30TH ANNIVERSARY EXTRAVAGANZA!!

***CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL YOUTUBE EPISODE***

 
When Michael Crichton’s novel JURASSIC PARK debuted in 1990, it read on the page like the greatest Steven Spielberg film that had never been made. Soon afterwards, it was announced that Spielberg would indeed be helming the screen adaptation.

 

When JURASSIC PARK debuted on June 11, 1993, it was an instant smash hit worldwide, the highest grossing film in history up to that point (dethroning Spielberg's own E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial from 1982), basically defining “summertime tentpole event” from that time forward. Tonight, 30 years later, we’ll discuss the original film, and its five, count ‘em FIVE sequels, as well as its enduring place in popular culture.