Lawrences

Review: Francis Lawrence’s ‘The Long Walk’ is an Emotional Wallop

by Alex Billington
September 12, 2025

“Walk until there’s only one of you left…” This unexpected end of summer surprise is one of the best of the year. The Long Walk is one of three new Stephen King adaptations this year – as well as The Life of Chuck and The Monkey. It’s based on one of the early novels by King published back in 1979 (under his pseudonym Richard Bachman). The Long Walk features a dystopian American future + a yearly government game a lot like The Hunger Games; though let’s be honest, it’s more than likely The Hunger Games borrowed from this story, considering The Long Walk was published a full 29 years before any of those books. And they really pulled this off. This movie got me good… It’s even more emotionally impactful and thrilling as a depiction of fascist dystopian hell than so many other stories trying the same. It shook me up proper. Yep we’re heading towards exactly what is depicted – it’s a zeitgeist concept. Not only is the filmmaking top notch, it’s riveting and so unsettling to watch, but the performances are what matter the most and they’re all excellent in here.

Here is the setup: in the near future with a devastated economy, America now offers a once-a-year become-very-wealthy game for young men around the country. One boy from each state is chosen through a lottery to compete in “The Long Walk.” The rules are simple: everyone must keep walking at a speed of 3 MPH or above. You keep on walking & walking until there’s only one person left. “If you fall below the speed of three miles per hour, you get your ticket.” Meaning they kill you. A convoy of military vehicles follows along to maintain the rules. If you do the calculations, this “long walk” should last about 3 days and cover over 300 miles, which is right around when the exhaustion is so unbearable you pass out or go crazy. There are up to 3 warnings issued if you slow down, which also grants them time to urinate or tie their shoe if necessary. It’s grueling. It’s insane. Of the 50 competitors in this long walk, the focus is on Cooper Hoffman playing Ray Garraty (#47) and David Jonsson playing Peter McVries (#23), who become friends over the course of the arduous stroll. Along with Stebbins (#38 – Garrett Wareing), Arthur (#6 – Tut Nyuot who is yet another stand out), Barkovitch (#5 – Charlie Plummer), Hank (#46 – Ben Wang), Collie (#48 – Joshua Odjick).

The relationships formed on this long walk are the most important part of this story – this is the real meat of King’s tale. Of course it is also brutally honest commentary on fascism & capitalism, and the way the world rewards only those willing to kill themselves (more on that below). But it’s also a story of these “boys”. This movie has the most vivid and deeply moving Sam & Frodo energy between Ray & Pete I’ve experienced in a long time. Some of the most perfect casting picks ever getting Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson as the two leads. They are remarkable together in this. I was wiping away tears by the end. I won’t stop thinking about them for a long time… It’s not just their friendship, it’s their comradery, their conversations, the way they grow to appreciate each other for who they are, not for the endurance to win this walk. And everything changes once they finally open up and tell each other their real stories. It’s so beautiful and wholesome… I think there’s a wise lesson in here about listening to each other, understanding each other, well beyond the macho-ness of competing in this walk thinking you’ll win it. Winning isn’t really what matters, right? I hope everyone else watching this movie comes to understand this point that King is making between Ray & Pete.

The film’s key metaphor of endlessly walking towards wealth is exceptionally accurate & clever. One of most representative analogies for life in late-stage capitalism. Yes, of course, it is literally about how insane it’d be to watch 50 boys walk for 3 days non-stop without any rest or breaks or anything. Yes, it’s gory and brutal to watch, with all the usual grisly injuries that could happen along the way. This story cannot be told without showing the gory truth of how this much walking destroys a body. The brutality is also part of the metaphor. Much like the Spanish film The Platform, simplicity is key in depicting this metaphor of America’s obsession with chasing wealth. Only 1 of the 50 will make it and win “endless riches” – it’s interesting that they never state an exact amount, just the dream of “riches” is enough. Much like life in poverty, you have to believe in yourself to get to the end or you literally won’t make it. You have to keep on marching, no matter how hard it gets. There’s wealth there at the end of the tunnel! Everyone else is dead? Whatever, keep on going, you only have yourself to worry about… And you’ll get there soon enough. Or you won’t… March on! For there is glory waiting: if you can outlast the brutality longer than everyone else! Then you, good Samaritan survivor, will finally be rewarded. Don’t worry about the 49 boys who didn’t make it… they’re not the winner. You are.

The Long Walk director Francis Lawrence, who’s also known for directing all The Hunger Games sequels after the first one (including Songbirds & Snakes), outdoes himself this time by bringing things back to the basics with pure, focused storytelling. The way he depicts the dystopian small towns along the way, flashes & moments of sullen locals watching like ghosts in the distance, indicates he has such a keen understanding of what is broken in modern society. And he wants us to see it and pick up on that within this movie. And to also feel the heaviness and bleakness of this scenario, how it’s not so far off from really happening, how this long walk is not the answer. It’s just perpetuating the madness. The sneakiest trick Francis Lawrence pulls is instilling so much hope and positivity into the first half of the movie. All 50 boys are so cheery & upbeat! It’s also part of the madness… You have to believe in this BS and create false hope in order to get even halfway there. I will admit this movie is quite depressing to watch, but the ending hits hard and lands right where it should, making the right decision. He is a Hero. He does what is necessary, but is that enough? I hope so…

Alex’s Rating: 9 out of 10
Follow Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing

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