Lord of the Flies *** (1990, Balthazar Getty, Chris Furrh, Danuel Pipoly) – Classic Movie Review 3597

Director Harry Hook delivers a surprise 1990 remake in widescreen and colour of Peter Brook’s 1963 film based on William Golding’s classic novel about a group of British schoolboys stranded on a desert island who gradually degenerate into savages as they break into two warring factions representing civilisation and savagery.

Although the book is a British story and the new film is directed by Britain’s Hook, sadly it is now tailored for the American market and it is American military cadets not British schoolboys who have been washed ashore after a plane crash.

Nevertheless, this change works very well and the the main kids, Balthazar Getty as Ralph, Chris Furrh as Jack and Danuel Pipoly as Piggy, are excellent. The problem is that, while Hook has turned this into an exciting, creepy adventure thriller, with Martin Fuhrer’s attractive colour cinematography and Philippe Sarde’s driving music score, Golding’s allegory and poetry have all but disappeared.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3597 derekwinnert.com