Lord of the Flies Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: Lord of the Flies
Year: 1963
Director: Peter Brook
Country: UK
Language: English

There are some books that are so good, they stay in your mind forever. George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World are just a few examples of these. Nobel prize winning author William Golding's Lord of the Flies is another novel that I just can't get enough of. A month ago I had heard that a film adaptation had existed, but I shrugged it off because I thought the adaptation couldn't possibly be as good as the original text. However I am here to tell you that the film is just as good, if not better.

The film consists of a group of young boys are stranded alone on an island. Left to fend for themselves, they must take on the responsibilities of adults, even if they are not ready to do so. Inevitably, two factions form: one group (lead by Ralph) want to build shelters and collect food, whereas Jack's group would rather have fun and hunt. Both groups are terrified of the monster that lives on the island.

What child does not want to be left alone, supervised for an extended period of time? If films like Home Alone are fantasy, then surely this is nightmare. Peter Brook's Lord of the Flies does an exquisite job of showing the lines between civility and savagery. Ralph (James Aubrey) wishes for order and peace, using a conch as a symbol for an orderly society, while Jack (Tom Chapin) could care less, his symbol is a boar's head which portrays lordly conquest. Throughout the 92 minute runtime we are taken on a whirlwind through hope and hopelessness, peace and suffering.

Author William Golding had a rather bleak view on Society; if law and technology is removed and we revert back to a primitive state of being, would we bring peace or war? Golding suggests the result would be utter chaos. Though "good" is ideal, "evil" and "greed" is always more seductive. Director Peter Brook amplifies Golding's thoughts and force us into a world of madness in which we can only pray ends.

Not believing professional child actors would deliver acting strong enough to portray such tragic characters, Brook decided to cast non-actors that lived close to the island of shooting. This was a wise choice as Brook received tremendous acting from all the cast, especially Hugh Edwards, the boy who played Piggy. The film's cinematography is brilliant, it greatly enhances the mood of the film by adding melancholy visuals of an island erupting into madness. Lord of the Flies is a horror film with none of the gimmicks, it is true fear.

In conclusion, Peter Brook's Lord of the Flies is not only as good as the original source material, but it may be better. It certainly is far superior when compared to the horrid adaptation made in the 90's. Each shot and line of dialogue in this film is important, which is one of the reasons it is so great. If you want a film that chills you to the bone, don't watch Silence of the Lambs, watch this. Praise it! 5/5