The Fly II: Special Edition DVD

Little more than a gory revenge flick, The Fly II doesn’t hold a swatter to Cronenberg’s 1986 film. Still, completists will want this collectible, extensive double-disk special edition which stars Eric Stoltz as the unfortunate off spring of “Brundlefly”. The story (by Mick Garris, currently heading up the “Masters of Horror” series) is reasonably complex and action-packed, and the acting is passable. The special effects are definitely cringe-worthy and there are tons of gruesome death scenes.

The sequel starts off with Seth Brundle’s girlfriend (not Geena Davis this time; a look-a-like was hired for this thankless job) giving birth to a mutant creature that is so repulsive that she flatlines the instant she sees it. An orphan, the now normal-looking baby is raised in a laboratory by Bartok Industries. In order to move things along, the script dictates that Brundlefly Jr. grows at an accelerated rate (on his 5th birthday, he’s fully grown and getting his groove on). He’s a genius, and naturally carries on his father’s work with the telepod transportation sytems. And, like his daddy, he’s quite the ladies’ man… but as soon as he starts boinking Beth (Daphne Zuniga) his innards get all wonky and he goes mutant.

The DVD includes Commentary by director Chris Walas and film historian Bob Burns; a Never-before-seen alternate ending; Deleted scene; The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect: in-depth documentary covering the entire Fly movie series; Transformations: Looking back at The Fly II: all-new behind-the-scenes documentary; Storyboard-to-film comparisons with optional commentary by Chris Walas; Film production journal; Christopher Young (composer) featurette; Original 1989 featurette, and more.

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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson