The third of four Stephen King movie adaptations this year is out now, and it is one of the best. “The Long Walk” is based on the first novel Stephen King wrote, back in 1967 while a college freshman. While the screenplay deviates from the source material in a few ways, it says a lot that such an early work is this powerful.
“The Long Walk” takes place in an alternate dystopian version of the United States that holds an annual walking contest. Each year 50 young men are chosen by random(?) to participate. The rules are simple. If a participant falls below 3mph, for any reason, they will be given 3 warnings, then executed on the spot. The last one walking becomes the winner, and is given a huge financial prize along with one wish. For a contest that has a 98% mortality rate, all the boys are surprisingly optimistic of their odds of winning.
The first character we meet is Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman). His father was executed in front of him years ago for possession of banned literature. For him, The Walk is a way to secure a better life for his mother. As the contest begins we’re introduced to a variety of characters. The event is lead by a cruel man known only as The Major (Mark Hamill) who relishes in the pain of others. Even though the general consensus is that it’s a bad idea to make friends during The Walk, Garraty quickly forms a bond with Pete McVries (David Jonsson) and a few others. Over the next few days the boys discuss all manner of life. Their pasts, their dreams, some general philosophy, and what their final wish will be.
When you boil this movie down to it’s basics, it’s a 2-hour film where you watch a group of young men have discussions while walking in a straight line. What’s amazing is how compelling this movie actually is, given that synopsis. The source material, the screenplay by JT Mollner, and direction by Francis Lawrence compliment one another flawlessly, providing one of the most engaging movies this year. We grow to love these characters more and more the closer they march towards their death. As our empathy grows, so does our dread, knowing that at any moment, another character could falter. When those moments do come, the movie pulls no punches. The executions are brutal and graphic.
Like The Walk itself, this movie is unrelenting. The pace never lets up. Our mind is never given a chance to wander. There are sprinkles of humor throughout, but never enough to let us catch our breath. Even when the film ends, the story will continue to run through your mind for a long time after.
The Long Walk
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