Adapted by JT Mollner and directed by Francis Lawrence, Stephen King’s powerful allegory (published under his pseudonym “Richard Bachman”), The Long Walk, arrives in theaters. Written in the late-1960’s, this was King’s first finished novel, although it would not receive publication until 1979. Set in an alternate version of the United States, this disturbingly relevant story that exists as a metaphor for times past and the present darkness of 2025 America.
In the world of Hollywood, Stephen King has perhaps the most profitable literary well where producers can find endless books and stories to adapt for the big screen. In 1976, Brian De Palma was the first to the starting gate with his well-received (and instant classic) horror masterpiece, Carrie. Tobe Hooper jumped into the fray with his beloved horror miniseries version of ‘Salem’s Lot. This was followed by Stanley Kubrick’s take on The Shining in 1980, and a 1983 triple threat of successes; David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone, John Carpenter’s Christine, and Lewis Teague’s Cujo. Each film did well at the box office and King fans were confident that moviemakers had a handle on the author’s unique style.
Unfortunately, in 1984 came a double feature of bad King adaptations. Fritz Kirsch’s Children of the Corn and Mark Lester’s Firestarter were the first Stephen King movies to divide audiences and sour critic opinions. Each of these were cheaply done and failed to grasp the essence of their source material. As the decades went on, Hollywood had a bumpy ride making movies from the author’s work. Artistically, financially, or both, there are certainly some successes. Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me and Misery, Frank Darabont’s The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption, and Andy Muscchietti’s It films are examples of proper Stephen King translations. Unfortunately, there have been more failures than one can count. Producers stopped caring about matching the right director to King’s vibe and started throwing out any quick cash-grab that featured the author’s name.
In today’s lackadaisical Hollywood machine, caution is recommended whenever a new Stephen King movie is announced. Thankfully, and along with this year’s The Life of Chuck, Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk is one of the best King films in some time.
Led by a great cast including David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman and Mark Hamill, the film tells of an America run by a totalitarian government that runs a “lottery” where 50 young men take part in a yearly challenge where they must walk until there is only one survivor. The last man standing receives a major cash prize that will give them a good life. The men must maintain a minimum pace of 3 mph. If they fall behind the set number, they get three warnings. After the third, if one isn’t back up and moving, they will be executed. Sleep? Not a wink to be had unless you learn how to sleep while walking. Bathroom? Let it happen as you walk. Food? Rations and water are handed out to the walkers when needed; the soldiers who could be their executioner are also keeping them alive.
We get to know some of the young men, but the script rightfully gives little backstory regarding their lives and what led them here. A few important life points are revealed about the two main characters but the film wants the audience to feel what it would be like in such a situation. Certain walkers buddy up while others try to stay solo. Each of them are well aware of the risks of getting too friendly. Again, there is to be only one winner.
The Long Walk is Francis Lawrence’s best film and a real surprise. Lawrence certainly has a career of financial successes (most of the Hunger Games films, I Am Legend), but none of his works show a signature style. Lawrence seems to make films audiences want to see, but their execution is by-the-numbers. On this one, the director has experienced an awakening. The director’s ability to balance emotion, suspense, and uncomfortable intensity is powerful and honors King’s original vision. A seemingly impossible story to adapt into a feature length film, Francis Lawrence does so with skill.
The picture’s main focus is Raymond Garraty (number 47) and Peter McVries (number 23). The two men are good souls navigating through dark times. Against the grain, Raymond and Peter find an immediate bond and become the de facto leaders of the doomed pack. Cooper Hoffman continues to impress as Raymond, his best performance to date. The actor’s work is effortless, natural, and earns the empathy of the audience.
David Jonsson matches Hoffman with every beat. Peter’s life has been a tough one and the young man has been through it. Jonsson’s performance is effective, as he lets the character’s emotions come organically. The actor gets to Peter’s soul, making for an intensely profound and potentially tragic friendship with Raymond.
Mark Hamill is “The Major”, the stone-hard and ice-cold overseer of the walk who occasionally takes to the megaphone to give the walkers his misguided version of encouragement. Hamill plays this one as more of a symbolic warning of what happens when a society kowtows to authoritarianism. While his performance may strike some as one-note, it is Stephen King’s point how these trained killers put into high ranks must strip away their humanity. Anyone with a conscience would never take orders from a dictatorial regime. Hamill taps into the soulless cowards who hide behind their authority and weaponry, showing no emotion and barking orders to everyone they deem to be lower. Each scene featuring The Major becomes a pivotal moment. Mark Hamill matches his character’s dramatic cause and effect through a fine performance.
The rest of the cast are equally great. Charlie Plummer, Tut Nyuot, Ben Wang, Joshua Odjick, Judy Greer, and more do good work showing the different facets of human strength and weakness. For better or worse, these men come together as a community of brothers during a time where anyone can be killed at any second; perhaps the Vietnam allegory King was going for.
Stephen King wrote The Long Walk over 50 years ago. The story speaks to both the past and present. King’s important work has a strong message about the Vietnam conflict. There are strong parallels to “The Long Walk” of the Navajo people where, between 1864 and 1866, the United States government ordered an ethnic cleansing, removing the Navajo from their land and into forced marches that saw some 3,500 people die from starvation and disease.
If Stephen King was warning us of impending doom if fascism were allowed into our country, 2025 America is a result of ignoring the alarm.
With artfully somber cinematography from Jo Willems and a powerful (but thankfully unobtrusive) score by composer Jeremiah Fraites, Francis Lawrence has crafted a strong film that speaks to many important issues. The picture’s frightening relevance is impossible to shake off, but the filmmaker presents a cinematic buffet of moving emotions and nail-biting suspense. While this is far from a Stephen King horror film, there are terrors throughout and it is fascinating to watch these young men navigate through the unimaginable horror that is their reality.
The words of Col. Kurtz from Apocalypse Now ring true as the 50 walkers in King’s tale embrace their collective fates; “Horror has a face… and you must make a friend of horror. Horror and moral terror are your friends. If they are not then they are enemies to be feared.”
The Long Walk
Written by JT Mollner (based on the novel by Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman)
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Starring Cooper Hoffman , David Jonsson, Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, Charlie Plummer, Tut Nyuot, Ben Wang, Joshua Odjick
R, 108 Minutes, Lionsgate
