Review of Lord of the Flies (1963) by Tim S — 23 Sep 2013

William Golding's seminal masterwork Lord of the Flies is one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. How does Peter Brook's 1963 adaptation measure up? Well, both are a bit of beasts on their own, separate from each other.

It's basically the same story in both versions though: a group of British school kids crash land on a secluded island where they must take care of each other. Their primal instincts take over and things get completely out of hand, leading to many unfortunate events.

While the film does show its age a bit, it does feel a like an ancient documentary at times rather than a film, which might not appeal to everyone today. Looking back on it, and when it was made, it's a wonder that it exists at all.

I haven't seen the 1993 adaptation in its entirety so I can't judge it accordingly, but I'm told it pales in comparison. Regardless, this is a terrific film. It may be a little rough around the edges but it still holds a lot of power.