BBC viewers have dished out their opinions on the new Lord Of The Flies TV series – branding it ‘unwatchable’ for one ‘horrific’ issue that caused them to switch off.
The highly anticipated series, which was adapted from William Golding’s 1954 novel of the same name by Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne, hit screens on Sunday (February 8).
The story follows a group of schoolboys stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash – who are left to fend for themselves and maintain civilisation.
It all starts to go wrong when one of the youngsters, Jack, played by Lox Pratt, develops a bloodthirsty love for hunting – and all order falls apart.
The BBC synopsis teases: ‘Stranded on an island, a gang of schoolboys create their own community – but when the rules vanish, the beast within awakens.’
While it was met with mixed reviews from critics ahead of its release, with experts divided over the ‘excellent acting’ but ‘not great script’, now, viewers have had their first chance to react.
BBC viewers have dished out their opinions on the new Lord Of The Flies TV series – branding it ‘unwatchable’ for one ‘horrific’ issue that caused them to switch off
The highly anticipated series, which was adapted from William Golding’s 1954 novel of the same name by Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne, hit screens on Sunday
For many fans, the first episode left them ‘switching off’ after noticing a ‘horrific’ issue with the series, hitting out against the ‘camera lens’ choice.
A number of the scenes appear to have been filmed using a ‘fish eye’ lens, an ultra-wide-angle type of camera lens that captures an extremely wide, sometimes panoramic, field of view.
The effect, which is often used in cinema to create surreal or dream-like perspectives, causes a distinct, distorted image in the background and edges of a shot, including curved and blending lines.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer hit out: ‘I love the Lord Of The Flies boo,k but this filmmaking style is horrific. This is too “cinematic”. It’s only bleedin’ TV!’
Another agreed: ‘Nope. Can’t watch this fish eye lens car crash,’ as a third chimed in: ‘Feels off – is it the colours, fisheye lenses shots, kid actors or general vibe. Not sure.’
‘Really *not* a fan of the fisheye lens they’re using on Lord Of The Flies and blurred distorted periphery,’ a fourth fan wrote of the camera choice.
While a fifth added: ‘What’s going on with the camera work, why is the cameraman in the sea? Did someone get a fish eye lens for Christmas?’
‘Sorry, the BBC’s Lord Of The Flies is proving to be a hot mess,’ another remarked, as someone else wrote: ‘Something not quite right about this.’
The story follows a group of schoolboys stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash – who are left to fend for themselves and maintain civilisation
The BBC synopsis teases: ‘Stranded on an island, a gang of schoolboys create their own community – but when the rules vanish, the beast within awakens’
Another penned: ‘Look at me screams the cinematographer – takes you out of the film and gives a surreal disorienting feel we don’t need.’
‘This is unwatchable, terrible cinematography, someone’s dialled up the “Vivid” filter to 100,’ another critic raged, as one concluded: ‘”While everyone is raving about Lord of the Flies on BBC, I’m not, I’m switching off.’
Others hit back against the criticism, with one writing: ‘Very impressed by the new adaptation of Lord of the Flies so far’, with another stating: ‘Enjoying it so far, what fantastic actors.’
It comes after one of the stars of Lord Of The Flies opened up on their own tale of surviving against the odds.
David McKenna, 12, who plays Piggy in the drama which started on Sunday night, has an extraordinary real-life tale of hardship and resilience – he has received two kidney transplants after being born with chronic kidney failure.
And in a heart-warming twist, it was David’s own parents who gave him their organs to save his life.
His first kidney was donated by his father, Jim, when David was four – and when that failed six years later, his mother Elizabeth stepped in to provide another organ.
Fans were less than impressed with the fish-eye lens used on the series
David McKenna, 12, (left) who plays Piggy in the drama which starts tonight, has an extraordinary real-life tale of hardship and resilience
The schoolboy, from Belfast, fought through years of painful treatment, including being fed by tube, and has been in and out of hospital throughout his childhood.
In a video posted on Facebook to mark the 25th anniversary of charity Children’s Kidney Fund NI, David said of his two transplants: ‘It has changed my life. I’m really proud of myself to think that 18 months ago, I was sat on a dialysis chair.
‘Now I’m winning musical theatre trophies, starring in musicals and I have something very exciting coming my way very soon.’
Most of the cast are, like David, making their professional acting debuts. He is joined by Lox Pratt who plays Jack and Londoner Winston Sawyers who is Ralph.
Ike Talbut, from Oxford, is the shy and introspective Simon.
Lord Of The Flies continues Sunday at 9pm on BBC One, and is available to stream on iPlayer
