Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Following a plane crash a group of schoolboys find themselves on a deserted island. They appoint a leader and attempt to create an organized society for the sake of their survival. Democracy and order soon begin to crumble when a breakaway faction regresses to savagery with horrifying consequences.
A faithful adaptation of Golding's landmark novel, the 1963 film captures the allegorical power of civilization's collapse with genuine gravity. The plot — boys regressing to savagery on a deserted island — is as compelling as the source material demands, earning a high mark. Acting from the non-professional child cast is uneven but often raw and convincing enough, landing above average. Cinematography is functional and occasionally evocative in its black-and-white starkness, but not especially inventive. As an adaptation it's earnest and largely effective, though it follows the novel closely rather than bringing a truly singular cinematic vision; novelty is above average given the story's distinctiveness but not exceptional in execution. The ending, mirroring Golding's abrupt, devastating naval officer arrival, is powerful in concept though its execution feels slightly rushed on screen.