It's been a while since we've had a truly solid Stephen King adaptation, one that balanced the humanity of his fiction with horror. The Long Walk is a truly exceptional film. The film didn't sugarcoat the macabre premise of the source material, but it did pack a lot of heart and some standout performances from the young cast. The Long Walk is one of this fall's best horror films and a terrifying cautionary tale.
The Long Walk is based on King's 1979 novel, published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Set in a totalitarian America, the story follows young people chosen by lottery to walk endless miles. There's no finish line. If they fail to keep walking, they're shot in the head by ruthless military thugs, led by the gravelly-voiced Major, played by Mark Hamill. The winner receives a huge cash prize and a single wish.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: JT Mollner, Stephen King
Stars: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing
Although King's book features around 100 kids, to make the adaptation easier, director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter JT Mollner (Strange Darling) reduced the number to just a few dozen teenagers. The film focuses on just a few, allowing for memorable moments among the cast and character development. The quality of some performances is undeniable, especially that of Cooper Hoffman, son of Philip Seymour Hoffman. He undoubtedly has his father's talent. He plays the earnest Raymond Garraty, a mama's boy who keeps a secret about why he wants to win the contest and what he plans to do if he does.
David Jonsson, known for Alien: Romulus, is the other standout actor. He plays Peter McVries. No matter how grueling and harrowing the journey may be, he encourages his classmates to keep finding beauty in their surroundings and in the friendships they forge. He unfolds with poetry and serves as the film's moral compass. I'm looking forward to seeing Hoffman and Jonsson continue to land important roles.
Even some of the supporting characters, such as Hank (Ben Wang), Art (Tut Nyuot), and Richard (Jordan Gonzalez), are memorable. They round out the cast well and bring a sense of levity. That's what this film has going for it. Despite the absolutely violent premise and the bloodshed, there are plenty of laughs and some dark humor.
The erratic and unpredictable Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) is another highlight. You get the feeling that he could snap at any moment and eliminate one of the contestants or himself. He's a volatile being, but, like the others, he also shows vulnerability and flashes of humanity at times.
If I have one complaint, it's that the film's dystopian world is too vague. The rules of the contest are clear, but the state of the United States itself is murkier. Civil War and economic disparity are mentioned, but nothing more. That said, the film addresses the concept of spectatorship well. As the boys walk, the inhabitants of a small American town watch silently from the side of the road, and there's something unsettling about it. For the spectators and the military, these boys are completely disposable. Their deaths are pure entertainment. The small-town settings, or the sprawling wheat fields, also feel very desolate and foster a greater sense of isolation.
The adaptation also addresses the morals and ethics of King's fiction well. For some of the nobler characters, like Peter, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain their morale in such desperate circumstances. From the beginning, it's clear that almost all the characters will die. There can only be one winner. Those are the rules. The boys must decide whether they will continue to help each other or attack each other. If one of the contestants stops too long to go to the bathroom, the military fires without remorse. The walk continues. There's no time to stop and grieve. There's a great disregard for life, and this is certainly a film with its share of heartbreaking scenes.
While the film is fairly faithful to the source material, it introduces a major change in the final act. This may upset some King fans, but for the sake of the film, it works. It also makes sense for the characters on screen and within the adaptation.
The Long Walk is a gripping and chilling story, not for the faint of heart. However, as ruthless as the film is at times—and it truly is—it still elevates humanity above all else. This is one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations in recent memory, with dazzling performances, especially from Hoffman and Jonsson.
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