Sitting in the theater to watch The Long Walk, audiences may have no idea what to expect. They may know it’s based on the novel by Stephen King, set in a dystopian future. Beyond that, they may just be looking for a good story. Stephen King adaptations can go either way. However, it’s safe to say that The Long Walk proved to be a worthy entry into the dystopian literature and film genre.
Following the story of a group of boys entering the Long Walk competition, the story centers on Cooper Hoffman’s character. ‘Garraty’ may be the focal point, but his character is the springboard used to meet the troupe he walks with. He quickly befriends David Jonsson’s ‘McVries,’ and the two’s friendship becomes the beating heart of the story.
The Stakes
Enter Mark Hamill as ‘The Major’, who gives very strong ‘President Snow’ from ‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy vibes. Cold and utterly delusional, Hamill’s Major just wants to put on a good show for the masses. He addresses the boys, spoon-feeding them propaganda dressed as a dream. Spelling out the rules of the walk, he states that each boy must maintain a speed of 3 miles per hour and not stop until there is only one. While it doesn’t sound fast, in the original King novel, the speed was 4 miles per hour. Thankfully, (for the actor’s sake), they changed it for this adaptation.
Now they’re off to the races. Stop more than three times and you’re ‘out’ of the competition. What does ‘out’ look like? The film doesn’t sugarcoat it. In fact, they make it very obvious from the beginning that their lives are on the line for the chance of escaping their circumstances. Each boy has their own reason for walking. For one, it’s the chance to write a book and tell the insider’s, tale of the walk, for another it’s simply riches.
A Worthy Entry into the Dystopian Genre
What makes this particularly fascinating to watch is that the walk should be every man for himself, but it isn’t. Instead, what the audience gets is a short-lived camaraderie between the boys. Despite their circumstance, for a little while, you forget the horror surrounding them. They swap stories, tell jokes, play ball, all as they walk. But as the miles tick away, one by one their numbers begin to dwindle, breaking the mirage around them.
The Long Walk is a poignant story that studies brotherhood, desperation, and crumbling society, all told through the lens of boys who want nothing more than a sliver of freedom. A life away from the hell scape and being given a chance to live.
The Long Walk will release in the United States on September 12, 2025.
