Everyday Dread | Horror Analysis
The Fly (1986): What Grotesque Body Horror Reveals About Us | Deconstructing Horror
Get ready to dive deep into the grotesque beauty of David Cronenberg’s 1986 masterpiece, The Fly . In this episode of Deconstructing Horror , host Ryan Does sits down with filmmaker and artist Sarey Martin Concepción to dissect how this iconic 80s body horror film serves as the ultimate metaphor for a personal apocalypse. From the tragic transformation of Seth Brundle ( Jeff Goldblum ) to the emotional devastation of Veronica ( Geena Davis ), we explore how Cronenberg intertwines beauty with the grotesque to reveal our deepest fears about mortality, identity, and the betrayal of the flesh. In this episode, we discuss: First Encounters: How we were first introduced to the visceral world of The Fly . The Director's Lens: What stands out about David Cronenberg's distinct filmmaking style and cinematic approach. The Personal Apocalypse: How both Seth and Veronica embody absolute, localized devastation. Obsession with the Flesh: Why Brundle’s focus on physical evolution reveals the dark tension between pleasure, pain, and human transformation. The Power of Body Horror: Why physical decay is the most effective way to visually represent a psychological breakdown. Whether you're a die-hard Cronenberg fan or a filmmaker interested in the mechanics of cinematic terror, this deep dive offers a unique, artistic perspective on one of horror's most emotional tragedies. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction to The Fly (1986) 2:15 - Sari’s Background & Filmmaker Perspective 5:40 - Cronenberg’s Approach: Blending Beauty and the Grotesque 10:15 - Seth & Veronica: Mapping the Personal Apocalypse 16:45 - The Obsession with the Flesh, Pleasure, and Pain 22:30 - Why Body Horror Hits So Close to Home 29:00 - Final Takeaways & Wrap Up Subscribe to Deconstructing Horror for more deep dives into the psychology, filmmaking, and themes behind your favorite scary movies. Sarey's Bio: Sarey is a filmmaker and storyteller rooted in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Before turning to her own work, she spent years as a producer of horror films and a talent manager for metal bands, including a decade on the production and management team for Rob Zombie, collaborating with partners like Blumhouse, Anchor Bay, and Dimension. She then went to seminary to study theology, and began cultivating a slate of artistic and entrepreneurial projects alongside it. Her debut short, "Father Mary," played festivals in 2022, earning a Best Director nomination at the Oregon Short Film Festival and, in 2024, the Best Oregon Filmmaker award at the McMinnville Film Festival. She has since been named a finalist for both Disney's Launchpad program and Sundance's Episodic Lab. Her most recent short, the eerie sci-fi drama "The Winemaker," won Best Short Film at the Lois Weber Film Festival and is currently on the festival circuit. Drawing on auteurs like Cronenberg, Lynch, and Jarmusch, Sarey is committed to elevating femme voices in genre filmmaking — stories that use horror and the uncanny to get at something stranger and more human. She's also an advocate for artists' mental health and for a healthier culture within the entertainment industry.
