Watch The Screwfly Solution For Free

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Clever, well-written, generally well-directed Masters of Horror episode about what would happen if someone or something created a plague or virus that affected mankind in the manner of men killing women instinctively. I do understand there are many gender themes floating in this script - sub-textual ones, metaphorical ones, symbolically, and even allegorically. Okay, I get that - well, at least some of it, but I would rather focus on what The Screwfly Solution is for sure. It is an interesting story about how mankind shall cope with its impending destruction though it not even clearly understands its impending doom. Jason Priestly and Elliot Gould play entomologists who are called in when cities all along a disease vector start having thousands of women killed by men who believe they are killing them for God or religion, etc... The story is cut here and there to fit into its hour, but the script is the piece's best trait. The acting is solid - isn't Gould always fun to watch? A strong supporting performance is given by Linda Darlow as Bella. And beautiful Kerry Norton is the lead. Did I say she was beautiful? Well, she is and you get to see all of her too! Director Joe Dante does a very workmanlike job with material that suits him. This is a fairly strong addition to a pretty good horror anthology.

With only one more "Masters of Horror" episode yet to see (that one being "Valerie on the Stairs"), I can now safely begin to list my favorites and least favorites of the series. "The Screwfly Solution" is definitely in my top three of favorite episodes and I already regret that I kept it as one of the last ones to check out. This short movie has an excellent story outline, perhaps even the best of ALL "Master of Horror" episodes, and benefices tremendously from the skills and experience of its director Joe Dante. Most episodes in the franchise rely on gore and awkwardness, but "The Screwfly Solution" is the sole episode that is truly thought-provoking, disturbing and petrifying. Of course, Dante wouldn't be himself if he didn't also grab the opportunity to insert a lot of social satire and pitch-black humor, so the wholesome remains supportable in spite of the heavy themes of depressing content. The outbreak of a mysterious and horrifying virus threatens the survival of humanity. Suddenly, and without a confirmed origin, all males in the Northern hemisphere develop extremely misogynic sentiments and proceed to killing females without any form of remorse or guilt. Scientist Alan and his best friend Barney are convinced this is some sort of terrorist attack and desperately attempt to find a cure. Alan nevertheless notices the virus infects him as well and encourages his wife and daughter to travel as far North as possible. "The Screwfly Solution" has a unique and original narrative structure. For example, the film opens with (genuine?) documentary footage about the extinction of the parasite screw-worm fly. The connection with the events in the film only become apparent once the story develops itself. This, as well as other small gimmicks, makes "The Srewfly Solution" one of the most intelligent and profound episodes of the two seasons combined. Most of the "MoH" episodes are notorious for being a gore-galore (like "Pro-Life" and "Jenifer"), but this is a different type of masterful horror film- making. The gore and bloodshed are kept to a minimum, but numerous sequences are genuinely tense and disturbing, like the scene inside the airplane. Also, Joe Dante's social criticism here is much more subtle and effective than in, say, his previous episode "Homecoming". The episode deals with political statements, xenophobia, post 9/11 paranoia, but it doesn't get shoved down your throat so obviously. The only minor complaints that I have about this episode are the dubious ending and, quite frankly, the fact that it wasn't a long-feature film. One last thing that pleasantly surprised me about "The Screwfly Solution" is the more than adequate acting performance of Jason Priestley. I honestly must admit I only know him as handsome teen-girl idol Brandon in the early 90's TV-show "Beverly Hills 90210", but here he demonstrates that he has become a very mature and charismatic lead actor. It's a shame that he isn't starring in more movies. Highly recommended. It's in my personal top three of "Masters of Horror" episodes, alongside "Imprint" and "The Fair-Haired Child".

I'll be the last one to deny that Joe Dante deserves praise for films like "Piranha", "The Howling" and even "Gremlins", but his contributions to "Masters Of Horror" both rank among the lesser episodes of the series. This seventh episode of the second season, "The Screwfly Solution" definitely has its qualities, but it also lacks in many departments. The episode is based on the acclaimed short story of the same name by Alice Sheldon (written under her pen name 'James Trippee Jr.'), which I haven't read. For some reason, most MoH episodes that try to deliver something political seem to fail as true Horror films. This is also the case with "The Screwfly Solution". The idea behind "The Screwfly Solution" was probably to make a socio-critical comment rather than to deliver pure Horror or genuine scares. Maybe this was also the case with the story - as stated above, I haven't read it. The episode is about a mysterious, rapidly spreading virus that, for some reason, makes men murderously aggressive towards women... The episode is not terribly suspenseful, so there should be a message behind it. Now, what does this episode want to tell us? That there is too much violence against women, and that violence against women is bad? I agree, of course, as anybody in their right mind would, but I certainly didn't need a "Masters of Horror" episode to tell me that. Even worse, Dante throws in comedy again. Some female characters seem deliberately made to be annoying, and it sometimes seems as if Dante is unable to decide whether to make a comment against violence against women, or actually provide some understanding for the men's aggression. The episode is not without irony, of course, and, as stated above, it does have its qualities. It does make a point, even though, in my opinion, not a very memorable one, and the performances are good. English actress Kerry Norton is great as the protagonist, and the episode also stars none other than the great Elliott Gould in a supporting role. I wasn't so happy about the casting of soap opera actor Jason Priestley at first, but he is actually decent enough in his role. Overall, the episode has some qualities, as far as I am concerned, it is only recommendable to enthusiastic fans of "Masters Of Horror".

I love the frequently misnomered "Masters of Horror" series. Horror fans live in a constant lack of nourishment. Projects like this (and the similar "Greenlight Project" with gave us "Feast" - like it or lump it) are breeding grounds for wonderful thought bubbles in the minds of directors with a horror bent to develop and bring to maturation food for we who love to dine on horror.This one began with a kernel of really-kool-idea and ran ... right off the edge of "where in the world am I going with this?!!!".I don't know how to spoil the spoiled but "SPOILER AHEAD" All of a sudden ... no, there was that light drifting across the night sky earlier ... we have long haired luminescent aliens (huh? ... HUH?) brain drilling males and ... yeah, I get it but ... well ... the worst curse of storytelling - a rousing and promising set up without a rewarding denouement.Cue to storytellers ... your build up has to have a payoff that exceeds build up. Not the other way around. Storytelling math 101.End of Spoilers - Big Oops!