THE LONG WALK

Director
Francis Lawrence

Starring
Cooper Hoffman
David Jonsson
Mark Hamill

Set in a dystopian America (seemingly in an alternate version of the 60s or 70s), the totalitarian government in charge demands an annual tribute where 50 randomly chosen young men are given provisions and told to walk down a single stretch of road. They cannot walk slower than 3mph and may not leave the road or they will receive a series of warnings before being shot. The ‘contest’ is motivated by money to escape extreme economic hardship, there’s no finish line, and there can only be one winner.

This film lives and dies on its world building being drip-fed without actually showing much of said world – which is both compelling and fresh. Giving us a chamber piece in motion, unfolding through the character’s descriptions of home with only one real flashback sequence. As such, as with all chamber pieces, the movie leans heavily on the writing and the central performances. And while the former buckles from time to time, the cast are more than up to the challenge. Naturally, we don’t get to know each and every one of the 50 participants but there’s a unifying morbid camaraderie, a military gallows humour usually reserved for war films. Accentuated with lines like, “a short friendship is better than no friendship” and “I always wished I had a brother.” And this incredibly straightforward combination of compelling characters and a simple premise, builds investment in the small group, so every growing death matters more and more.

It should be noted, however, that as much as it compares to something like the dystopian settings of Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, or even Squid Game this probably resonates a little closer to King’s other adaptions The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, specifically for their tone, themes, and chemistry. Namely that it’s hard to be hopeful when immersed in despair but you have to try, for both those around you and the sanctity of your own soul. That said, being based on Stephen King material, means that for every ounce of light in the darkness and human compassion, we also have heavy doses of misery and awful male toxicity to balance things out.

Which brings us to the cast. There’s not a single bad element here. Every one of the major and minor roles is performed admirably, with both a relatability and grounding that makes them endearing. The very fact that these individuals are mostly willing to talk to one another and learn about their lives, rather than immediately turning on each other, is so counterintuitive to how you’d expect these boys to react. Yes there are moments of contention but they’re not at each other’s throats. And every single time someone is suffering and another walker tries to motivate or help, it heightens the horror because these are human beings and this shared plight is genuinely horrific.

From a structural point of view, this feels like a fairly plain task for Lawrence. But coming off big budget blockbusters, this stripped back feature allows him to really focus in on what matters most. After all, when you’re on such a constricted assignment, you can’t hide behind pomp and flashy sequences. Much like Cast Away, this hand-tying process requires a level of concentration and skill to make it not only watchable but satisfying and effective – which I feel it is. The sound design is simple and unobtrusive (until it wants your attention with gunshots), the cinematography rises to the challenge on the mundanity of the same road in different weather conditions, and while the score is only used sparingly, it hits hard when it comes in.

**spoilers within**
But despite all the glazing, this movie is far from perfect. It’s gripping, harrowing, and earnest, but inherits a few problems from the source material – both in what it keeps and where it chooses to deviate. See, for those who know the signs, patterns, and foreshadowing, the conclusion is pretty easy to predict. Granted, the changes from the book itself are commendable and I feel it resonates better, but the fact Peter McVries [Jonsson] seemingly sacrifices his outlook of hope by crossing the line and executing the Major [Hamill] felt cold. It’s not that the Major didn’t deserve to die, it’s that Peter took on the mantle of Ray’s [Hoffman] grief and anger, despite the pair (and by extension, the audience) agreeing that succumbing to revenge isn’t the answer. Yes, it’s a cathartic close, yes it feels like a reaction that would resonate through this world, but it doesn’t land with the satisfaction that it should because it feels somewhat contradictory. Also, as a little aside, the revelation that Stebbins is the Major’s son (one of many illegitimate children) was a bit unnecessary. And while you can chalk that up to “well, the script is being loyal to the source material” it’s another flat and cold moment that lacks the impact it thinks it has. Which is unfortunate.

Ultimately The Long Walk is less about what’s presented in front of us and more about the wide-reaching possibility for analogy, comparison and parallels with the slip into authoritarianist proposals that are monstrous and barbaric but become normalised through desperation. And, with that in mind, I feel any flaws or weaknesses are ingestible and forgivable.

Release Date:
12 September 2025

The Scene To Look Out For:
During the first night, many of the group become understandably tired and delirious. So when the group reach an incline at around half three in the morning, the stakes ramp up very quickly. All of a sudden, the handful of deaths escalates to a bloodbath. But it’s less that the action is the driving force here, and more that Ray snapped at Pete before the incident and after it, immediately apologise, almost suffering a panic attack in the process. Again, it’s the wavering and enduring camaraderie and companionship that makes this movie what it is.

Notable Characters:
The Long Walk has a solid roster of strong and memorable supports but this is more a co-lead feature, and both Hoffman and Jonsson are spectacularly engrossing. Passionate, soulful, driven, they are remarkably real in this nightmare scenario and the more the film unfolds, the more desperately you don’t want to confront the inevitability of these two being parted. None of which you can achieve if you don’t believe or don’t care about these characters.

Highlighted Quote:
“When the system backs you into a corner and points to an escape hatch and says that’s the only way, of course you go along with it.”

In A Few Words:
“With its direct premise with uncomplicated execution, The Long Walk is a refreshing survival horror.”

Total Score: 4/5

Linked Reviews

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM ALIEN ROMULUS THE GREAT WALL