The symbolism is right up front and unmissable, and the story part -- the events that in theory should cause our throats to tighten and our pulses to quicken -- is pretty lame.

Brutally violent, with a dark, overarching theme that may be difficult for kids to process, this adaptation is the scarier, more disturbing cousin of the 1963 film.

The clumsiest film in recent memory... an irritating parody[Full review in Spanish]

Dialogue and actions that resonate in the novel and in the Peter Brook film version here fall lifeless onto the sandy beach.