a film based on the novel, starring timothy spall, melanie lynskey, lucy lawless, nicholas galitzine, erana james, benji purchase, and kate harcourt was released in september 2017. the film was shot in christchurch in 2016. the adaptation was given four-out-of-four stars by matt zoller seitz, stating that "[i]t's creepy, moving, and ultimately inspirational, and its more disturbing images stick in the mind... in its own modest way, this is a perfect genre film."