The Fly (1986) - When Passion Becomes Obsession

Passion is taking a deep breath and diving deeper than you ever have. It's being less afraid to push yourself harder every time you take that plunge, knowing it'll make you stronger. And passion helps us evolve - to the point of eclipsing our intelligence with wisdom that speaks louder than words.

David Cronenberg's 1986 magnum opus looks into the mind of inventor Seth Brundle. Brundle, played by the incomparable Jeff Goldblum, is desperate to share his life's work with someone. Upon meeting a journalist by the name of Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis), Brundle piques her interest by teasing a revolutionary new invention that she just has to see for herself.

Brundle's mad genius is already festering when we first meet. His metamorphosis is gradual and Quaife is a delicate flower at the centre of his cluttered garden. Where we part ways is at a moment of desperation when Brundle's thirst for knowledge is only quenched by a mirage that sits behind a veil of success. 

Because there's something beyond ultimate victory that's frighteningly awesome. Victor Frankenstein chased that uncharted realm and Brundle is no different during our stay with him. Where Frankenstein despises what he once loved, Brundle is stuck in an everlasting moment of awe with something he once saw as theory and code. And that prodigious power of god-like creationist consumes him. 

What he chases initially is a way to connect people and bring the world closer together. What eventually becomes, is a need to distance himself from the world in an attempt to explore the next step in the evolutionary chain. And that jumping from humble researcher to mad scientist is what creates the most tension - and ultimately, tragedy. 

Obsession is a construct. When empirical evidence makes way for desire in the pursuit of knowledge, the mind enters the unknown. And although the journey can be exhilarating, there's no denying we eventually enter a point of no return that's more terrifying than anything we can imagine.