Quick take
Jack Thorne’s new TV version of Lord of the Flies is equal parts tense survival drama and grim social experiment. It looks gorgeous, sounds weird, and feels like a nightmare you can’t wake from. Think sunburnt chaos with a soundtrack that rattles your teeth. ★★★★☆
What this is (and what it isn’t)
This isn’t a straight movie remade scene-for-scene — it’s an adaptation that keeps the book’s period vibe but tells the story in a fresher, stranger way. If you came expecting a kid-focused romp, surprise: it’s a grown-up meditation on how groups go off the rails, dressed in children’s clothing.
How it feels on screen
The show leans hard into sensory overload. Camera tricks and nature-closeups suck you into island life, while an over-the-top color scheme makes everything feel slightly off-kilter — like the island is both beautiful and actively plotting against you. The score hums and grinds under it all, nudging ordinary scenes toward full-on dread.
Characters and performances
The casting is a real win. David McKenna, in his first big role, brings surprising warmth and dignity to the bespectacled outsider who tries (and fails) to keep things civilized. The power passes to another magnetic presence when the story pivots to the charismatic troublemaker — a leader who looks confident but is secretly on thin ice. The show also gives a few key kids extra backstory moments, which give them texture without overexplaining everything.
Themes: small island, big ideas
At its heart, the series operates on two levels. On the surface it’s a gripping survival tale with escalating danger; underneath it’s an unsettling look at how crowds and fear can warp people. That makes it bleak, yes, but also strangely illuminating — the kind of show that sparks awkward dinner-table conversations.
Who should watch
Not for bedtime viewing with toddlers, but great for older teens and adults who like their drama unnerving and thought-provoking. It’s a family watch in the sense that it will provoke reactions across generations — just maybe keep the nightlights on.
Verdict and where to find it
Bold, claustrophobic and visually daring — a modern, morally sticky take on a classic. Lord of the Flies is showing on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and it will arrive on Netflix in the US later.
