The Long Walk: A Brutal Journey

 


It makes sense that the director of all but one of the Hunger Games films, Francis Lawrence, was chosen to direct The Long Walk. There are similarities between the stories and the type of world they are set in, but The Long Walk is even more intense in my opinion. Participation in the annual event is voluntary and sees one teenage boy selected from each state walk as long as it takes and at a minimum speed until only one of them is left standing. The winner receives a substantial cash prize and is allowed to ask for and receive one wish, within specified parameters. What happens to those who don't finish the long walk? Immediate execution. High stakes to say the least.

Something about The Long Walk that stood out from the start is how the audience is thrown right into the world and narrative. You don't ever really get a break from what happens in the movie either. The setting is a simply executed, but effective dystopian/totalitarian society. Almost everyone in America is living in poverty in the aftermath of a war that took place some years prior. The terrible economic state is why boys put their names in to hopefully be selected as their state's representative in the long walk. So is participating in the long walk actually voluntary? The characters talk about this and have their doubts.

Speaking of the characters, the emotional core of The Long Walk is found in the relationship between Raymond (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter (David Jonsson). The dynamic between these two is quite strong and they have memorable, deep conversations. I won't go into details so you can appreciate it for yourself. Each character has a distinct voice, which helps keep you invested since the film is unsurprisingly a lot of walking. 

The Long Walk is a very philosophical and thought-provoking movie. There are a lot of emotional moments, and you'll be rooting for the best outcome even with how despairing the whole situation is. You'll be chilled by the feeling of isolation that's presented in the story. 

It's worth saying that The Long Walk is not for everyone. The deaths are brutal, hard to watch and don't get any easier to watch. How the characters talk to each other at times is pretty difficult to listen to. Even with the premise of the film, the deaths can feel repetitive. I also saw certain plot points and twists coming. But overall, if you can handle the harshness of The Long Walk, I believe you'll get a lot out of the trek.

Rating:

Green Light

 This is a movie to see in theaters

The Long Walk   108 minutes    R    In theaters

My 2025 Top Movies: The Ballad of Wallis Island, F1 and Not Just a Goof

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