Plot: What’s it about?
I would have to think more about it, but I can’t think of a recent film with as cruel a premise as The Long Walk. The closest one might be 2017’s, The Belko Experiment. With that film, our characters didn’t have a choice but to engage in the dire situation in which they found themselves. Here, the characters volunteer, but I will get to that more in a bit. As it stands, this is the nice kind of mid budget film that we don’t see a lot of anymore. The acting is top notch, the story is intriguing and Lawrence keeps things moving along nicely, to make for a great time at the movies.
Based on Stephen King’s first book* and directed by Francis Lawrence (no stranger to dystopian films), The Long Walk is one of the better and most effective films I’ve seen in recent years. It won’t be for everyone, and isn’t always an easy movie to sit through, but it features a great cast and a harsh but memorable premise. We learn that there are hard economic times in the world, and the film begins with a strong focus on one of the main characters named Raymond (Cooper Hoffman). During the very early moments of the film, we see him driving with his mother (Judy Greer) to participate in the long walk. She is clearly against the idea, but he assures her he will be fine and states that it’s too late to back out. The Long Walk is an annual contest where several young men can sign up to walk until there is only one left. There is a total of 50 participants, and they must keep a pace of 3 miles and not fall below or step off the pavement. They will receive three warnings, and if they fail to continue, they will be shot and killed. Raymond is quick to introduce himself to the others and try to be hospitable. One of the other main characters here is Peter McVries (David Jonsson). He and Raymond become our central characters and are given the most screen time. The film does a good job of getting to know most of the characters here and developing them. The major is played by Mark Hamill who gives enough menace and encouragement to create a memorable role. The event is televised, but Lawrence wisely stays on our characters and the walk ahead of them. We get some flashback sequences and see some of the spectators and locals, but the primary focus here is on the walk itself. With a premise like this, we know that there can only be one character left, but it’s the journey of getting there that is fascinating stuff.
While the premise is cruel in that these characters must keep walking or their lives will end, we can at least stand behind their strength and resilience. Some viewers and certainly those familiar with the novel may have a general idea of who will be the last few men standing before the climax, but I was hooked on this thing. While it isn’t a grotesque film, the R rating is earned as it doesn’t hold back when a character is offed. The language is also present as these aren’t exactly clean-cut characters. I didn’t mind, however, as it felt more natural and authentic. The Long Walk is a great film and one of 2025’s better entries. Check it out.
* Though The Long Walk was technically King’s first novel, it wasn’t published until Carrie. King also wrote this under his pseudonym – Richard Bachman.
Video: How does it look?
The Long Walk has a very (intentional) vintage look and feel to it. The colors are desaturated, the skies not a bright, pristine blue and flesh tones are washed out. In short, it fits with the theme of the film. The 2.39:1 AVC HD transfer makes use of the real estate available giving the “road” ample space and thus creating a very distant atmosphere. Having said that, the transfer also sports no errors. Detail is razor sharp which, according to some scenes, might not be a good thing (you’ll know it when you see it) with strong black levels and excellent contrast to boot.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Atmos mix is a welcome addition to this Blu-ray, not that it’s a total immersive experience. By and large, most of this film is dialogue, as it should be. There are some instances where the wind rustles through trees, gunfire or birds chirping did get my attention, but this uncompressed mix certainly gets the job done.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is a bit of a tipping point with me. By and large, I don’t mind if you have to pay a few extra bucks to get the 4K version and many times that will include a Dolby Atmos mix whereas the Blu-ray might have a DTS mix. That’s not the case here. But the Amazon exclusive 4K disc contains several supplemental features that aren’t present here. By making you pay more to get supplements – I think that’s crossing the line. That’s not to say that what’s included here is bad by any means, but you shouldn’t have to pay more for supplements. End of rant.
- Ever Onward: Making The Long Walk – Labeled as a documentary, this is actually just five featuettes edited together. I suppose you can call it either a documentary or a featurette. I chose the latter. At any rate, anything and everything you’d want or need to know about the film, its history or the esteemed author can be found here. Those who are avid fans of King will certainly be interested in the backstory of this work. The ups and downs of filming are also covered as is casting, the challenges faced and so forth. It’s a great watch and nearly as entertaining as the film itself.
- Chapter 1: Walk or Die
- Chapter 2: Raring to Rip
- Chapter 3: Another Time/Another Place
- Chapter 4: Adjustments Are Key
- Chapter 5: Fulfillment
- < strong>Theatrical Trailers
The Bottom Line
With a great cast, compelling story (albeit a slightly cruel one) and strong direction, The Long Walk is highly recommended. It isn’t always an easy film to sit through, but for those knowing what to expect, it is great stuff. If supplements don’t matter to you, this is the version to get (well that and you don’t mind missing out on the 4K picture quality), but the decision to withhold supplements from this version is a head-scratcher for sure.
