As harsh as The Fly was to baboons, its 1989 sequel The Fly 2 does horrific things to a dog, leading to a resolution sure to make animal lovers cry. The genres of sci-fi and horror are the two most often combined in the world of film, with the possible exception of romance and comedy, and crime and drama. It's no surprise, as sci-fi and horror inherently complement each other, both usually dealing with extraordinary things that don't actually exist, at least not yet, or that we know of.

When it comes to sci-fi and horror combos, few approach director David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly when it comes to sheer quality. Boasting terrific performances, intriguing concepts, and jaw-droppingly gruesome special effects, The Fly is widely considered one of the best remakes in movie history, regardless of genre. It improves on the 1950s original in every conceivable way, and proves that with the right talent behind - and in front of - the camera, a remake can most definitely surpass its progenitor.

Related: The Fly 2 Reveals Jeff Goldblum Could Have Been Saved

That said, The Fly 2 had almost no hope of besting The Fly 1986. Its best shot was at crafting a worthy companion piece, and the sequel came very close to doing that. While the final product is flawed, some parts of the story do their best to rival Cronenberg's Fly, especially the subplot revolving around an adorable golden retriever.

Why The Fly 2's Dog Subplot Will Make Any Animal Lover Cry

The Fly 2 - Martin and Seth Brundle Header

As referenced earlier, The Fly 1986 contains an early teleportation experiment by Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) that sees a poor baboon test subject get turned inside out. It's a shocking scene, and sure to upset animal lovers. The film was at one point even worse in that respect, as a deleted scene would've featured a cat get similar horrifying treatment. The Fly 2 didn't choose to be nearly as nice. The sequel sees Martin Brundle (Eric Stoltz) the son of Seth and Veronica Quaife - who dies during childbirth - taken in by the slimy corporate boss at Bartok Industries, the company that bankrolled Seth's teleportation research.

Early on in The Fly 2, Martin meets and quickly befriends a dog while exploring Bartok Industries, but unfortunately, the dog is himself a test subject, and ends up horrifically mutated as a result of a failed attempt to replicate Seth's discovery. This naturally scares the hell out of Martin, especially when the crazed canine attacks a scientist. Bartok later apologizes to Martin, promising him the animal didn't suffer for long. A few years later, at which point Martin has rapidly aged to physical adulthood, he discovers that Bartok lied, and that the lovable golden retriever was still being kept chained up for study.

In an incredibly sad sequence that it would be almost impossible for a dog lover to not shed a tear at, the animal still remembers Martin, and despite being disfigured, is happy to see him. Unable to stand seeing his friend in this condition, Martin chooses to euthanize the sad creature. While Bartok thankfully gets his at the end of The Fly 2, in a gruesome way, Martin's short-lived friendship with this sweet little dog remains one of horror's most heartbreaking subplots involving animals.

More: Why The Fly’s Deleted “Monkey-Cat” Scene Was Too Brutal For Audiences