Masters Of Horror: The Screwfly Solution

I know that by now you're all thinking that I'm a huge mark for the Masters Of Horror series, and you know what? You're right! This is probably the best thing to hit TV, let alone horror, since the original Twilight Zone was on. So, I make no apologies for enjoying these great movies and I recommend them to anyone who asks me for a recommendation! This time, let's look at Season 2's Joe Dante entry, The Screwfly Solution.



After the great commentary on the Iraq war in Season One's Homecoming, you'd think that Mr. Dante might not have another great movie in him so soon, but he does and The Screwfly Solution comes right up to the mark he set in Season One, here's the story: Jason Priestly plays a scientist who has just solved an insect epidemic in a third world country by developing a spray that, once released, causes the male of the species to confuse it's sexual impulse with it's anger impulse, so, when it gets aroused by the female, instead of mating it turns violent, thus ending the species. A great idea to get rid of insects, but, when the same thing begins happening to humans, all hell breaks loose. Jason finds himself in a race to find a cure before his impulse to find his wife overcomes him and he hunts down the ones he loves!

This is an excellent commentary on sexual equality and the gender war, with Jason Priestly perfectly cast (yes, I can't believe it either!), but the real performances here are from Elliott Gould, as Jason's gay colleague, who finds himself immune to the plague overtaking humanity and Kerry Norton as Jason's wife, you'll be on the edge of your seat as she has to disguise herself as a man in order to get food for her child, surrounded by rednecks, it's almost impossible for her to hide her femininity!

I'm giving Masters Of Horror: The Screwfly Solution four out of four cigars,

because this is one of the best morality plays I've seen in recent years, it's preaches equality in a way I've never seen before and it's entertaining, which is my cardinal rule of movies, preach all you want, but don't bore me, and The Screwfly Solution won't bore you at all!! So, until next time, when the only urges I'll be confusing is the urge for a twinkee and the urge for a cupcake, remember that the best movies are bad movies!