The Long Walk (Theatrical)

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 style 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 3 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.