USA 2025
Opening September 11, 2025
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Writing credits: JT Mollner, Stephen King
Principal actors: Cooper Hoffman, Ben Wang, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, Tut Nyuot, Garrett Wareing
The dystopic alternative environment Stephen King creates in The Long Walk is within the conceivable future. Written in 1967 while still at university, King’s psychological horror’s distinctness is being his first book, albeit unpublished, written when the US involvement in the Vietnam War bred civil unrest, uncertainty, divides. Wafts of accompanying existential themes—normalization of atrocities, revenge’s double sword, buddies and brotherhood, choice making’s inherent strength, adjusting to challenges—are laced throughout director Francis Lawrence’s adaptation and JT Mollner’s screenplay.
The last war devastated the country’s wealth and energy. And its hope. The now totalitarian regime hosts an annual walking competition whereby young, male participants, chosen from across the country, gamble everything. Mrs. Garraty (Judy Greer) is questioning her son’s choice as she drops the insistent Ray (Cooper Hoffman) at the starting-line gates, beyond which young men mill about. Excited and apprehensive, Ray introduces himself to Peter McVries (David Jonsson) and others before all conversation ceases as the Major (Mark Hamill) arrives. Standing ramrod straight he addresses the rules: Maintain a constant three miles per hour speed; individual’s actions can incur (complicated) penalties; the reward—cash and the one-time granting of a wish. Reiterating the walk-or-die concept, “There’s one winner and no finish line,” the Major assigns men with numbers before ordering them to form lines; they then start walking with tanks and troops issuing warnings, armed with carbines, forward and aft. Ray’s #47, Pete #23, the fitness nut Stebbins #38 (Garrett Wareing), Thomas Curley #7 (Roman Griffin Davis), the smart Hank Olson #46 (Ben Wang), the disturbed Gary Barkovitch #5 (Charlie Plummer), Collie Parker #48 (Joshua Odjick), Arthur Baker #6 (Tut Nyuot) hopes to make friends, Harkness #49 (Jordan Gonzalez), Ewing #1 (Noah de Mel), Rank #19 (Daymon Wrightly), et al. Day, night, rain or shine they walk through lonely desolation and deprived, demeaned communities. The grueling routine eliminates teammates. Squabbles, fights, friendships, and comradery blossom, sinking roots; they discover banding together begets boldness. Especially after the hill.
“It’s a rare opportunity to make a film that feels both epic and personal, where the tension comes not just from the stakes of the walk, but from the relationships that develop along the way,” explains Lawrence. The outstanding cast (Rich Delia, casting director) exude their characters’ temperaments, foibles, and fallacies. Jeremiah Fraites’s score is soothing and oftentimes the harbinger of impending action. Jo Willems’s camerawork is noteworthy, informative; had Mark Yoshikawa editing been tighter the storyline’s inherent tension could have be maximized. The Long Walk – Todesmarsch is a provocative thought-tickler that is under no illusion about the silliness of this human race. 108 minutes (Marinell H.)