Curse of the Fly Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A family keeps accidentally turning people into vaguely defined goopy messes with their science machine, while the new wife tries not to lose her mind over the spooky house and its weird residents.

🍿 Curse of the Fly: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Escape from the Asylum and a Whirlwind Romance

The film opens dramatically with Patricia Stanley escaping a mental institution. Found on the road by motorist Martin Delambre, the two share a rapid, whirlwind romance. Despite hiding secrets from each other, they marry quickly. Patricia is unaware of the dark history and unsettling activities of Martin’s family, the Delambres.

Arrival at the Delambre Estate

Patricia moves into the remote Delambre mansion, meeting Martin’s father, Henri Delambre, who continues the family’s controversial teleportation experiments. Simultaneously, the police begin searching for Patricia, having been alerted by the asylum. Patricia soon discovers unsettling aspects of the estate, including locked doors in the outbuildings and strange occurrences within the house. These hint at the horrific consequences of the Delambre experiments hidden from the outside world.

Discovery of the Mutants and the Family Secret

Driven by her suspicions, Patricia discovers that the locked outbuildings house deformed human test subjects – victims of failed teleportation experiments. She also encounters Judith, Martin’s first wife, horrifically mutated but still alive within the estate. Martin is forced to reveal the grim truth: the Delambre family legacy is tied to dangerous experiments that result in monstrous mutations and physical deterioration, including a rapid aging condition affecting himself and his father. As police investigate Patricia’s disappearance, the family’s secrets are increasingly threatened.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Patricia Stanley (Carole Gray): An escaped mental patient who marries into the cursed Delambre family and uncovers their horrific secrets.
• Martin Delambre (George Baker): A descendant of the original scientist involved in teleportation experiments who marries an outsider and suffers from the family’s condition.
• Henri Delambre (Brian Donlevy): The patriarch of the Delambre family, driven by obsession to perfect the teleportation machine despite its deadly consequences.
• Judith Delambre (Mary Manson): Martin’s tragic first wife, left hideously mutated by a failed teleportation experiment and confined to a cell.
• Wan (Yvette Rees): A loyal Delambre servant fiercely protective of Judith and resentful of Patricia’s intrusion into the household.
• Albert Delambre (Michael Graham): Martin’s brother who operates the London teleportation receiver and becomes disillusioned with his family’s experiments.
• Inspector Ronet (Jeremy Wilkin): A persistent police investigator searching for Patricia Stanley, whose inquiries expose the Delambre family’s illegal activities.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Henri Delambre: “We’re scientists. We have to do things we hate, that even sicken us.” – Said by Henri to his son Albert, justifying their continued dangerous and unethical teleportation experiments.
• Albert Delambre: “You murdered those men, and you made me a murderer too.” – Albert confronts his father Henri about the failed experiments and the horrific results they have created.
• Albert Delambre: “Do you call that success?” – Albert challenges his father’s claim of success while showing him the severe radiation burns Henri sustained during a teleportation.
• Henri Delambre: “The teleporter will replace every known means of transportation.” – Henri states his grand ambition and the supposed revolutionary future of their teleportation technology.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Curse of the Fly Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Curse of the Fly’ after hearing it was the weird black sheep of the original trilogy. And wow, it IS weird, but I kind of dug it! It’s definitely not like the first two; no fly guy this time, which feels a bit like false advertising, but whatever. The whole vibe is spooky and gothic. I really liked the mystery building up around the house and Martin’s secrets. The scene where Pat hears the piano playing and finds Judith? Super creepy, it gave me chills! And the reveals about the mutants in the stables… yikes. That felt genuinely unsettling, even with the dated effects. Yeah, the science bits are hilariously outdated, and some of the character choices make you scratch your head (like Pat marrying Martin after, what, a week?). But I found myself really drawn into the dark, tragic story of the Delambre family trying to keep their messed-up experiments hidden. It feels more like a haunted house movie with a sci-fi twist. The ending is pretty wild and sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic sci-fi horror films”
  • “Viewers interested in the original ‘The Fly’ trilogy”
  • “Enthusiasts of atmospheric B-movies”
  • “Those who appreciate Gothic suspense”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Contains sequences with deformed/mutated humans (makeup effects)”
  • “Themes of scientific experimentation gone wrong”
  • “Depicts mental breakdown and confinement (briefly)”
  • “Some moments of suspense and implied violence”

Professional Reviews

• Invented: “Don Sharp takes the ‘Fly’ series in a new direction, leaning into gothic atmosphere and psychological tension over explicit creature horror. While the title is misleading, the film delivers a moody experience with striking black and white cinematography and a compelling, albeit melodramatic, storyline about inherited scientific obsession and its horrifying consequences. The opening sequence alone is worth the price of admission.
• Invented: “This UK-made sequel to ‘The Fly’ saga tries to move beyond the insect-hybrid concept, focusing on the Delambre family’s ongoing teleportation failures and the mutated victims. The low budget shows, particularly in the creature makeup and flimsy science gadgets. While Brian Donlevy brings gravitas, plot inconsistencies and a lack of the series’ iconic monster might disappoint fans expecting more bug-eyed terror. It’s a watchable sci-fi thriller, but feels only loosely connected to its predecessors.

Audience Reactions

Viewers appreciated the moody atmosphere and darker, gothic tone.: Many found the film surprisingly engaging and a unique departure from the previous entries, enjoying the suspense and tragic elements.

The reveal of the mutated experimental subjects was a memorable and unsettling moment.: Fans were divided on the lack of a fly monster, with some missing it and others praising the film for trying something new and focusing on the broader ‘curse’ of the family’s science.

Overall Consensus: A polarizing but often appreciated third entry in the original ‘Fly’ series, praised for its atmospheric gothic sci-fi approach and unsettling moments, though criticized for plot inconsistencies and the absence of the iconic fly creature.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was rarely seen for many years after its original release and did not receive a home video release until a 2007 DVD box set.”
• “Despite being set in Canada, the movie was filmed at Shepperton Studios in the United Kingdom.”
• “The names of the two Asian servants, Tai and Wan, form ‘Taiwan’, which was noted by reviewers at the time as a piece of subtle humor.”
• “The role of Henri Delambre was originally intended for actor Claude Rains, but the part ultimately went to Brian Donlevy.”
• “A photographic still shown in the film, supposedly of the original ‘Fly’ (Andre Delambre), is actually a picture of his son Philippe Delambre from the second movie, ‘Return of the Fly’ (1959).”
• “The UK cinema version was subject to cuts by the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) to reduce a shot of previously teleported victims.”

🖥️ How to Watch Curse of the Fly?

As a classic film, “Curse of the Fly” (1965) may be available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major digital storefronts. Check these services for current availability and pricing options. Physical copies may also be found on DVD or Blu-ray, often as part of horror or sci-fi film collections.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Curse of the Fly, you might like these similar films:

• The Fly (1958): The original film in the series that established the premise of teleportation experiments and their horrific consequences, providing essential context for the Delambre family’s ‘curse’.
• The Quatermass Xperiment (1955): Stars Brian Donlevy (Henri Delambre in Curse of the Fly) in another role involving scientific experiments gone terribly wrong, featuring UK production and themes of mutation and body horror.
• The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962): A cult classic B-movie featuring a mad scientist keeping monstrous results of his experiments locked away, similar to the mutants held in the stables in ‘Curse of the Fly’.
• The Fly (1986): David Cronenberg’s acclaimed and gorier remake updates the teleportation concept and focuses heavily on body horror, offering a modern take on the core idea.
• Island of Terror (1966): A British horror film from the same era also starring Carole Gray, dealing with scientists accidentally creating deadly creatures through their research, sharing a similar blend of sci-fi and horror.

🛒 Curse of the Fly Related Products

• The Fly Collection Blu-ray Box Set: Own the original trilogy, including ‘Curse of the Fly,’ in stunning high-definition. This set often includes bonus features delving into the making of these classic films.
• Classic Sci-Fi & Horror Movie Posters Book: Explore the iconic artwork that promoted films like ‘Curse of the Fly.’ Features high-quality reproductions of vintage movie posters and lobby cards.
• Vintage Sci-Fi Film Encyclopedia: A comprehensive digital guide covering the sci-fi and horror films of the 1950s and 60s, offering detailed entries, analysis, and historical context.
• Retro Atomic Sci-Fi Decor: Decorative items inspired by the atomic age and classic science fiction, perfect for adding a touch of vintage genre flair to your home or office.

🎧 Soundtrack

Curse of the Fly features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Bert Shefter
• “Patricia’s Theme (Piano)” – performed by Bert Shefter
• “Experimental Failures” – performed by Bert Shefter

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

the curse of the fly – nicole gray – unc

Want a super quick dive into a specific part of ‘The Curse of the Fly’? This short clip seems to touch on something particular, maybe related to a character or scene – I’m curious what the ‘unc’ bit is all about!

✨ Rate