Brundlefly: Cronenberg's Score and the Horror of Becoming

Alright soundtrack nerds, HughesReviews back at it. I've been revisiting Cronenberg's "The Fly" (1986) – yeah, the body horror classic – and I can't stop thinking about the score. Howard Shore absolutely killed it, right? It's not just 'scary music'; it's like, a sympathetic horror. It beautifully reflects Seth Brundle's tragic transformation. Think about the romantic, almost optimistic themes early on, especially when he's showing Veronica his telepods. It's all about potential, discovery, and even love. But as the fly DNA asserts itself, the music gets progressively dissonant and chaotic, mirroring Brundle's physical and mental breakdown. My weird theory is that the score itself becomes another layer of the transformation. It's not just accompanying the horror; it's actively charting Brundle's descent. Like, in the scene where Brundle is eating all that sugar (gross, I know), the music is manic and unsettling, but also almost…playful? Shore captures that twisted sense of discovery that Brundle has, even as he's losing himself. It's a very specific kind of unsettling, and I've rarely heard it captured better in a horror score. And then, the final act... when he's fully Brundlefly? The score is just pure, mournful dread. It's heartbreaking. It's like Shore is giving Brundle a requiem before he's even dead. That scene where Veronica has to make the awful choice...the music elevates it beyond just monster movie thrills into something truly emotionally devastating. It's even more effective because Shore used some of the original themes from the beginning of the film, only twisted and distorted. It hits so much harder! So yeah, that's my rambling thought. The score isn't just background noise; it's an integral part of the narrative, acting as a sonic representation of Brundle's horrifying metamorphosis. Anyone got any other thoughts on Shore's work on this one, or any other scores that actively enhance the plot? Let's hear it!