After a long wait, Lord of the Flies is finally premiering on the BBC tonight. Based on William Golding’s classic 1954 novel of the same name, the latest adaptation has proved to be a hit with critics.
The four-part series, written and created by Jack Thorne, follows a group of young boys after they become stranded on a remote island following a plane crash. As they acclimate to their new surroundings, a power struggle ensues.
Directed by Marc Munden with original music from legendary composer Hans Zimmer, the highly-anticipated series premieres tonight at 9pm on BBC One. If you just can’t wait, then you can stream the series now on BBC iPlayer.
The cast for the survival drama primarily consists of newcomers, with the featured stars including Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, Ike Talbut, Thomas Connor and Noah Flemyng.
So far, it seems that the BBC series has struck a chord with critics, with several noting that it was a worthy adaptation of Golding’s novel. In Digital Spy’s four-star review of the drama, we praised Thorne for incorporating contemporary themes in the classic tale.
BBC
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“Where this particular adaptation is most effective is in its exploration of masculinity. Just like in Adolescence, these boys turn to hate as an answer to their loneliness and frustration in ways that extend far beyond the mere radius of the island,” we wrote.
“This is a strong series, especially when Thorne expands on the source material with a contemporary perspective. It’s also beautifully crafted, making this a perfect introduction to one of literature’s seminal texts,” we added.
BBC
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The Standard was also full of praise as they called it “visually rich”, adding: “The sense that someone or something evil is on the island is mirrored in the often trippy visuals, where foliage is soaked blood red or the boys are bathed in an otherworldly greenish glow.”
Likewise, The Telegraph was incredibly positive as they dubbed it a “first-class example of an adaptation done right”, with the publication also praising the “stunning direction” and “superb” performances of its young cast.
Lord of the Flies premieres tonight at 9pm on BBC One, and also streams on BBC iPlayer.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. Â His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
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