In 1979, author Stephen King, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, published the novel, “The Long Walk” to great worldwide success. Since its publication, there have been three attempts to adapt the novel to screen all of which fell through, until 2023 when Lionsgate announced their plans for an adaptation of the novel, starring actors Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson as the lead characters.
On Sept. 12 2025, the film was released to critical acclaim and widespread recognition. So that begs the question, “Is it worth the trip to the theater?”
The film follows a group of 50 boys in a dystopian America, who sign up for a contest known as the long walk where contestants have to walk three miles an hour for an undisclosed amount of time. If they drop below the speed they receive a warning, if they receive three warnings, they are shot in the head.
While the bleak premise may sound similar to dystopian contemporaries such as “The Hunger Games” and “Squid Game,” the story distinguishes itself from the rest by exploring the participants on a deep and personal level. The boys, unlike the previously mentioned films, want their fellow walkers to survive, even though they know there can only be one winner.
By seeing them interact with each other and sharing their hopes and desires, the audience builds an attachment to the characters. The viewers are pulled by the heartstring as they are constantly reminded that these are just kids who have been thrown into a violent environment that they do not fully understand. The incredible writing from screenwriter JT Mollner makes each boy’s death increasingly devastating.
The best aspect of the film by far are the performances by the cast, especially Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, who bring empathy and compassion to their characters, making the journeys they go on engaging to watch. Hoffman, in particular, includes a layer of vulnerability and regret to protagonist Ray Garraty that makes his conversations with the other characters feel authentic and adds to the tragedy of the film.
Jonsson’s performance as the optimistic Peter McVries is the moral core of the film, in his efforts to stay positive and keep the morale high amongst the boys. His friendship with Garraty is what drives the film’s themes, making the ending of the walk all more devastating when you get there.
“The Long Walk” is a horror thriller disguised as a brilliant coming of age tragedy that will have an audience of both Stephen King fans and those who are not familiar with him, in tears by the end.
