Review of Lord of the Flies (1963) by Mando M — 29 Jun 2009

Lord of the Flies (1963) -- [8.0] -- Peter Brook takes a raw documentary approach to adapting William Golding's book for film. At first, it's off-putting, maybe even mistaken as the mark of an amateur.

But as the film progresses, you start to see the power of Brook's approach. The children, for the most part, aren't acting. When you get to the chaotic bonfire sequence, there's real, unbridled heathenism on display.

For any clumsy line deliveries, there are also some haunting, authentic reaction shots. The last few minutes are without dialogue, but two particular boys' faces turn it into some amazing cinema. When you consider the film cost only nickels to make, you marvel all the more at its ingenuity.