The Long Walk

Plot

In an unknown time in American history, there has been decades of poverty following a civil war.

To guide America out of its “epidemic of laziness” – there has been “The Long Walk” – in which one young man from every state competes.

There are three simple rules; you must keep walking at 3 miles per hour, if you drop below you get a warning, three warnings = your “ticket”.

Walk off the path, you get your “ticket” without warning.

Be the last person walking, you win an unimaginable cash prize plus “one wish granted instantly”.

Who will be the last walker? And what exactly is a “ticket”?

Direction

Directed by The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence. While I have not seen those films, I presume it is in similar vein as the franchise as it is mostly outdoors, with many tracking shots following the boys walking…. and talking… and walking.

The brutality of the violence when it occurs, is graphic and visceral – and it does not shy away from ‘other’ things that the human body must do as the days go by.

Cast/Characters

Cooper Hoffman is the lead character of Ray. He is the ‘local walker’ as The Long Walk is in his home state.

UK actor David Jonsson plays Pete, who befriends Ray along their walk.

The two men join a ‘group’ called the musketeers, which include Arthur (played by Tut Nyuot) and Hank (played by Ben Wang.

Other important walkers are Native-American Parker (Joshua Odjick), Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) who feels responsible for an early walkers death, Stebbins (Garrett Wareing) and Harkness (Jordan Gonzalez) who wants to write a book on The Long Walk.

Adult stars are Judy Greer (who is severely underused) and Mark Hamill as The Major – who organises The long Walk and revels in the chaos.

Breakdown

Based one of Stephen King’s earliest novels (this was apparently the first thing he wrote under his pseudonym of Richard Bachman), released in 1979. It is written for the screen by JT Mollner who had recently written/directed the amazing Strange Darlings.

We get brief ideas of what America ‘is’ in this film. It has become a dystopian, almost wasteland of a country, following 19 years of seemingly civil war.

We are introduced to Raymond “Ray” Garraty of Maine – who harbors a deep resentment of the “Major” who oversees the event. This is hinted at during his conversations with fellow ‘contestants’ such as Pete, who he slowly bonds with.

It isn’t until later in the film the ‘narrative red herring’ that the major is his father is snuffed out, with a heartbreaking revelation that the major *** spoiler *** actually killed his father. His father opposed political dystopian ruling, and was executed by the Major for it.

Over the five days the film is told over, the boys walk and walk and walk, often at times coming close to having their “ticket punched” (one heart-wrenching moment comes mid film where the boys must walk up hill in the middle of the night – and have the majors soldiers inches from them brandishing carbine machine guns.

The film also doesn’t shy away from gritty realism, not just with the shocking violence when the boys get their tickets punched. The graphic visceral will stay with you after they get shot in their heads. There is also several (almost comical) moments where the boys must use the restroom, and unable to stop walking, must do their “business” as such (one particularly funny scene is when Ray and Pete are having a discussion of life, when Art comes up to them having recently done what he needed, and they request he walk up ahead due to the smell).

The brutal toll the walk has on some of their bodies is rough as one boy’s ankle breaks at 90° and he continues to try to carry on… but slows down due to the pain… and gets his ticket punched because of it.

The ending, in which Ray and Pete become the final two walkers, is both heartbreaking, shocking, considering who we have come to know as the wanting winner *** spoiler Pete wins at the last few seconds ***

Perfect casting, with absolutely stellar performances. Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Phillip Seymour) is sensational, and clearly has taken his fathers talents. I would have loved more of Judy Greer, and this is one of Mark Hamill’s best performances (that you never see his eyes, makes him almost inhuman).

There are some truly uplifting dialogue, including the introduction from the Major (before he becomes the films antagonist) and from the boys as they have many heart to hearts – and finding both friendship and brotherhood where they need it most.

Overall

Brilliantly directed (shot chronologically as well), with an amazing script from one of Stephen Kings earliest novels.

The cast is all incredible, with career bests from Hoffman and Hamill (just wish we had more of Judy Greer).

A shocking ending will stay with you for days after!

4.5/5

Please check out my Podcast – where we discuss this film.