The Long Walk

Filmmaker Francis Lawrence is no stranger to dystopian futures, having directed I Am Legend and every Hunger Games film sans the first entry. While having the same filmmaker who brought to life the expanded world of Panem back to direct yet another film about teens being subjected to a deadly game under authoritarian rule could have run into unfortunate feelings of “been there, done that”. Thankfully, Lawrence’s latest film quickly makes its own distinct, gruesome mark. An adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, King actually began writing the story in the late 60’s as an allegory for the Vietnam War. Having worked on it for over a decade, King finally published the novel in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the same pseudonym he used for publishing his other famous dystopian work, The Running Man. Despite an abundance of King adaptations in recent years, this latest is one of the better recent film translations of King’s work. This is a thoroughly grim, yet soulful piece of cinema that manages to upend damn near every expectation one might have going into it.

Courtesy Lionsgate

Years after a catastrophic civil war has decimated the United States, the fascist government has sought out new methods to deter any further rebellion and retain order. One of their methods is implementing an annual Long Walk competition where a teenage boy from each state is voluntarily selected to compete to walk hundreds of miles until one person remains. The contestants must maintain a speed of at least 3 miles per hour, if they stop, they have ten seconds to continue. Each contestant gets three warnings. When their last warning is broken, they are killed on the spot. The winner receives an enormous cash prize and one wish of their choosing. The figure in charge of the walk is the nefarious Major (an imposing Mark Hamill) who is just as happy to pull the trigger as he is to give asinine inspirational blurbs.

Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza) volunteers for the walk, despite the horror from his mother (Judy Greer) who knows what is likely in store for her son. As Ray embarks on the walk, he quickly befriends Pete McVries (Alien: Romulus breakout David Jonsson), a loner who wants to win the money from the walk and use his riches to bring some good into the world. These two characters are the beating heart of the film as we witness the two young men continuously grow and lean on each other throughout their physical and emotional exhaustion, the degradation of their mental state and the sheer brutality that is inflicted upon them.

Directed by Hunger Games franchise veteran Francis Lawrence, The Long Walk will inevitably be compared to the worldwide smash franchise, but this is the kind of brutalistic, dour and grim story that feels of a piece with Stephen King’s other works. Carrying elements of both King adaptations Stand By Me and The Running Man, Lawrence and screenwriter JT Mollner (Strange Darling) instill a great deal of heart into the characters and story, allowing for a more involving picture. This is a film that not only doesn’t hold back in its brutal depiction of violence, but in the uncomfortable emotional depths it’s willing to explore. Lawrence’s emphasis on strong character development and coming-of-age aspects of the story prevent The Long Walk from feeling like an empty genre exercise. These characters are all young men with different aspirations and flaws. Some are greedy and seek to win for their own personal gain. Others are there to win in order to feed themselves or their families, who have all suffered under the authoritarian government. Lawrence gives his terrific ensemble of young actors room to exist within the setting and allows many of the performances to breathe. When characters you’ve come to care for are graphically murdered in front of your very eyes, the impact hits all the more viscerally.

Courtesy Lionsgate

After witnessing the first death of the group, Pete says to a distraught Ray “you’ll get used to it” to which Ray responds with “that’s what I’m afraid of”. It’s the quiet moments of reflection, alongside refreshing breaks of spirited humor and naturally-written banter between the characters that allow the contrasting moments of harrowing screams and howls of violence to really creep under your skin. There is a rather poetic element to the film as the young men are forced to accept the beauty of life in the moment amidst utter dystopian hell. Ray and Pete become the closest of friends that either one has ever had and witnessing that relationship develop is one of the film’s most powerful assets. Hoffman and Jonsson are equally sensational, delivering emotionally committed performances that are intense, yet strikingly understated. Both characters see the walk as an act of defiance, looking to utilize their potential reward for a higher purpose. The camaraderie between Ray and Pete continuously showcases two rising talents that are commanding in every fleeting glance and humanizing expression of despair. The other supporting cast members including Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing and Tut Nyuot give such distinct personalities to their respective characters. Even when one of these characters acts out or behaves despicably, the naturalism in each performance makes you invested to see where their journey will end.

Lawrence’s work on The Hunger Games films comes in handy as the technical staging is quite impeccable. While a film about characters walking an endless stretch of miles may not seem like a daunting task, nothing could be further from the truth. It has been reported that the core actors walked over 15 miles a day while filming and the results are never anything less than immersive. By the time we witness these characters experience shocks to their body, mental state and overall well-being, the realism on display is simply harrowing and forces the audience to feel their pain and anguish. While specific plot details are withheld for revelations later on, the world-building feels a bit half baked. That said, the limited scope of the film helps achieve a greater sense of intimacy within the setting.

Courtesy Lionsgate

The Long Walk is the bleakest, most heart-wrenching Stephen King adaptation since The Mist. Director Francis Lawrence delivers an intentionally exhausting, yet resoundingly human and powerful film experience. Stars Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson lead a gripping ensemble of young actors that bring great care and pathos to their respective characters. In a politically divided time such as this, specifically as if this writing, it’s films like this that are willing to be bold and uncompromising in their depiction of humanity amidst utter dystopian cruelty that reminds us how fragile freedom really is.

The Long Walk is now playing in theaters.