The Long Walk: Harrowing Hike or Slow Stroll?

Tying the Boots

Lace up and find a pace, because a new adaptation from a fright icon is hitting theaters nationwide! The Long Walk is an all-new thriller movie and the latest mainstream release based on a novel by acclaimed author Stephen King. There have been a plethora of King adaptations throughout the years, with some even ranking among the greatest films ever made, including The Shawshank Redemption, Carrie, and The Shining. But this story – based on the 1979 novel of the same name – sticks out from previous works with the author’s name attached to it, as its premise is more grounded than supernatural. 

Rather than have a murderous clown or killer car on the loose, The Long Walk focuses on the core concept of a walking contest and prioritizes tension around it. But how can one build suspense out of something as simple as an outdoor stroll? Based on the acclaim the film has gotten from critics and audiences and a solid $11 million opening weekend, the filmmakers appear to have found a way to resonate with a wide crowd and succeed with that idea. 

Admittedly, I was not fully interested in this movie when it was first announced. I thought the premise was interesting, but was not sure if the execution would be able to sell the tensions. My expectations and curiosity began to rise once an outpouring of praise came in ahead of its nationwide release, as I wondered how the film would compare to the previous King-based features. Plus, I loved the previous two adaptations from this year – The Monkey and The Life of Chuck – so I was optimistic that The Long Walk could also reach those ranks of high quality.

Curiously, I trekked to the local Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas on Route 57, and booked a ticket to join the hike on Friday, Sept. 12. As the credits rolled, I was left with one question: did this movie live up to previous King adaptations, or were its feet too weak to complete the walk?

The First Steps

Taking place in a dystopian 1970s America, The Long Walk focuses on a group of 50 boys who participate in the titular contest, with the winner receiving a cash prize and the granting of a wish of their choice. But there’s a catch to this simple setup: if anyone fails to maintain the speed limit of 3 miles per hour, or stops for any reason, that walker is executed. The deadly game keeps going until there is only one walker left standing, transforming a simple contest into a tense race for survival.

Directed by Francis Lawrence of The Hunger Games series and I Am Legend, the film features an all-star cast including Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, Garrett Wareing, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill among many others. 

I went into this movie with very few expectations which were ultimately exceeded in every way. The best way I can describe The Long Walk is brilliant in execution and impactful in its content. This is largely because of how it develops its story and stakes. The concept of a deadly walking marathon may seem a bit simple on paper, but under Lawrence’s direction and JT Mollner’s screenplay, the movie greatly sets up an engaging story with a frightening overarching conflict. 

The main plot of the film is rather unpredictable despite maintaining the “last person standing” approach commonly seen in other dystopian features like The Hunger Games. Even though the overall ending is inevitable, the screenplay greatly emphasizes the mystery of WHO that last person is going to be, providing a feeling of uneasiness as viewers are left to wonder who will survive and achieve the grand prize. As a result, it paves the way for many great dramatic and emotional moments, especially as walkers begin falling back and are horrifically eliminated from the competition. 

Also helping the screenplay remain engaging is the film’s unique approach to its setting. Set in an alternate 1970s America, the environments feature many classic traits of the dystopian subgenre including abandoned landscapes and a heavy emphasis on deserted areas. However, an additional rule of the Long Walk contest is that walkers are not allowed to step off the concrete road, or else they risk execution. As such, the setting provides a feeling of isolation as the hikers are left with no support system or resting points other than in each other’s company. This creative approach to the setting helps the movie stand out from other dystopian projects, and works expertly with the unforeseeable onscreen events to keep viewers on edge. 

Hikers Assemble

Part of the reason this movie works as well as it does is because of the fantastic characters, all of whom are portrayed excellently. In terms of their overall development, every walker has a distinct personality, with some even having their own arcs as they progress through the competition. In particular, the two main protagonists – Ray Garrity and Peter McVries – have terrific personal stories which develop throughout the runtime, while also showcasing fantastic natural chemistry through their interactions. The dialogue between them and all the other walkers feels genuine, adding a layer of relatability to every contestant which helps them stick with viewers.

Bringing these characters to life is a phenomenal cast, who greatly showcase feelings of determination, fear, and emotional vulnerability throughout the course of the walk. Particularly, Hoffman and Jonsson are stellar as Garrity and McVries, respectively, especially in the movie’s second half. In addition to their fantastic chemistry, the two excel in moments of optimism and heartbreak, providing a terrific range to their characters and helping them stand out as more than just two random hikers. 

Other walkers – including those portrayed by Wang, Plummer, and Wareing – interact greatly with their surroundings and fellow competitors while remaining emotionally resonating through their hardships. Without giving too much away, I will say that Plummer’s character particularly showcases great development as he deals with his own personal conflict. Meanwhile, other non-walking characters shine in the movie as well, including Greer’s heartbreaking performance as Garrity’s mother and Hamill’s menacing portrayal of the Major who oversees the competition. The combined efforts of the cast, both on and off the trail, help the movie feel more impactful, especially as the stakes rise and the crowd of walkers dissipates. 

Terrifying Trek

I found the film’s greatest strength to be the way it developed its tone, especially in the emotionally-driven moments. There is an overarching sense of dread and intensity to the tone from the moment the walk begins which remains consistent throughout the entire runtime. Even in the film’s more uplifting moments or heartfelt interactions, that slight suspicion remains prevalent as one wrong step from anybody could result in a walker’s sudden demise. As such, it adds to the engagement factor as viewers eagerly wonder what may happen next, even if the film seems uplifting in the heat of the moment. 

When the more dramatic scenes do occur, they emotionally resonate with audiences in such a way to leave them completely shocked, whether it be through onscreen imagery or horrifying line delivery. There were many instances in this film which were brutal – both figuratively and literally – and nearly left me in tears, with some standouts including an interaction between Garrity and his mother midway through and the concluding 15 minutes. The emotional core of this movie sticks out like a stray pebble in a shoe, impacting me in such a way to where I am still haunted by certain scenes even days after my initial watch.

As a result of this emotionally challenging approach, the film is not a very revisitable one; the emotional moments are expertly crafted and executed, but they’re also quite heartwrenching, to the point where I don’t see myself immediately rewatching the film. Make no mistake, I still found the movie to be fantastic, but compared to many of the others I’ve seen this year, this one is much heavier in its instances of drama and thrills, resulting in a movie I would not exactly call rewatchable.

Completing the Journey

Overall, though it may not be a very rewatchable movie, The Long Walk ranks among the year’s best pictures thanks to its terrific tension, strong character chemistry, heartwrenching drama, believable performances, unique setting, and unpredictable story. Having gone in not anticipating much, I was blown away by how much this film resonated with me, and how it elevated such a simple concept into something grander than what I expected.

If you’re a fan of Lawrence’s or King’s previous works, dystopian stories, or the thriller genre, I highly recommend watching this movie at least once. The Long Walk is currently playing in theaters across the country – including the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you want to see something emotional but captivating, this is a film worth trekking to the cinema to check out. 

This movie may be emotionally challenging, but in terms of its overall execution, it established something special which it maintained down to its very last step. 

My Rating