REVIEW — “The Long Walk”

Director Francis Lawrence brings Stephen King’s bleak, early novel to life in The Long Walk, a brutal yet poignant dystopian drama. The film masterfully explores themes of desperation, endurance, and the grim bonds forged in the face of certain death. With standout performances from leads Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, it is a haunting and tense cinematic experience that stays with the viewer long after the credits roll.

Adapted by writer J.T. Mollner from Stephen King’s 1979 novel (written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman), The Long Walk is set in a totalitarian, alternate United States. One hundred teenage boys are chosen by lottery to compete in an annual event where they must walk without stopping. The rules are simple: maintain a pace of at least four miles per hour, or receive a warning. After three warnings, they get their ticket: immediate execution by the soldiers patrolling the route. The last boy walking is granted the “Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life.

Director Francis Lawrence, known for his work on The Hunger Games franchise, strips away any semblance of glamour or pageantry from this lethal game. He instead focuses on the relentless, psychological wear-and-tear of the contest, capturing the physical and mental degradation of the competitors in unflinching detail. The film is not a celebration of violence but a chilling examination of it, made all the more disturbing by its realism.

Lawrence wisely casts a roster of talented but relatively unknown actors to fill the ranks of the walkers, ensuring that the audience has no preconceived notions about who might survive. At the center are Hoffman as Raymond Garraty and Jonsson as Peter McVries. Son of late acting powerhouse Philip Seymour, Hoffman delivers a sympathetic and grounded performance as Ray, the determined but conflicted protagonist who, after the death of his father (Josh Hamilton), defiantly chooses to enlist in the Long Walk against the wishes of his mother (Judy Greer). Jonsson is his charismatic counterpart, Pete, whose sardonic humor hides his own tormented past.

The ensemble cast shines in its portrayal of the brutal camaraderie that develops between the boys. Ben Wang provides moments of levity as the unfiltered Hank Olson, while Charlie Plummer is memorable as the aggressive wildcard Gary Barkovitch. However, Tut Nyuot provides one of the film’s most emotional turns as the gentle and loyal Arthur. Other notables include Garrett Wareing, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez and Joshua Odjick. The dynamic cast is corralled by a menacing Mark Hamill as the Major, the ruthless, detached figure who oversees the walk with brutal authority.

The Long Walk is a profound and moving study of survival that is less about the finish line and more about the journey itself. The film examines how individuals cope with an impossible situation, forced to choose between self-preservation and compassion. The brutal bonds of brotherhood are the core of this tragedy, as alliances are formed under the knowledge that only one of them can live. In this extreme scenario, the boys depend on one another for emotional support and even physical survival, creating a paradox where their connection is also their deepest source of pain.

The film’s true horror lies not in gore but in the existential dread of its premise. It forces viewers to confront the darkest aspects of human nature, questioning how society can allow such a spectacle and how far a person would go for a chance at a better life. Both brutal and beautiful, The Long Walk is a grim and emotionally taxing film, but its strong performances and sharp thematic focus make it a must-see for those who appreciate intense, character-driven dystopian fiction. 3.5/5

Rated R with a running time of 1 hours, 48 minutes, The Long Walk opens only in theaters on September 12, 2025.