Time: 108 Minutes
Age Rating: R16– Violence, offensive language & content that may disturb
Cast:
Cooper Hoffman as Raymond “Ray” Garraty (#47)
David Jonsson as Peter “Pete” McVries (#23)
Garrett Wareing as Billy Stebbins (#38)
Tut Nyuot as Arthur “Art” Baker (#6)
Charlie Plummer as Gary Barkovitch (#5)
Ben Wang as Hank Olson (#46)
Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness (#49)
Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker (#48)
Mark Hamill as The Major
Roman Griffin Davis as Thomas Curley (#7)
Judy Greer as Ginnie Garraty
Josh Hamilton as William Garraty
Director: Francis Lawrence

I knew only a little bit about The Long Walk going in. I knew that it was directed by Francis Lawrence, starred Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, and was based on a Stephen King novel. Not only that, but it had been praised as one of the best King adaptations, and having watched it, it certainly lived up to all the high praise. 

The Long Walk has a simple story: teenagers are in a contest where they have to keep walking above a certain pace, and if they stop, they are killed. It’s very efficient with that premise and is well paced throughout, the social commentary is straightforward and yet effective. There is a strong atmosphere; the tone is bleak and the dystopian setting is conveyed despite most of the movie just focussing on characters walking on a road, and every time someone is killed, you really feel the impact. At the same time, The Long Walk is a very human drama, compelling and emotional. Not all of the scenes consist of characters trying to keep up the pace or being killed, you spend a lot of time with these characters as they are talking, and learn about them. Most of the attention is spent on the two leads, who are characterized well. While the other characters also have their moments and are performed very well, they could’ve used a little more focus than they received. Without getting into spoilers, I thought that the ending worked and hit in the way that it needed to.

The performances are incredible with amazing chemistry between the cast, the actors and their dynamics with each other carries and drives much of the movie. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are amazing in the lead roles, the friendship between them feels believable and they convey so much from their characters. Judy Greer isn’t in the movie a lot but she is incredible and memorable in all her scenes. Mark Hamill as the main villain fits the vibe required for his character.

Francis Lawrence’s direction was very solid. The visuals aren’t always spectacular but definitely has its moments, and are particularly fantastic during the night-time sequences. As said before, every death is felt, and that is emphasised with the brutal and unflinching violence which deliberately provokes a visceral reaction.

The Long Walk is an emotional, brutal, intense, and well directed dystopian thriller with incredible performances. One of the most surprising movies of the year thus far.