THE LONG WALK

The Long Walk is a brutal annual test of endurance in dystopian America where 50 boys are selected by lottery to walk along a pre-determined route. They must maintain a steady pace of at least 3 miles per hour and receive a warning if they fall below this speed for more than 10 seconds – three warnings result in on-the-spot execution by a soldier. The sole survivor wins the ultimate prize of having anything they want for the rest of their lives. Powerful themes of human endurance and connection flow throughout, as the boys battle physical and emotional pain, while forming intense friendships along the way. The casting is exceptional and despite the only big name being Mark Hamill (as The Major), every single actor holds their own, especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s son Cooper Hoffman as Ray Garraty and David Jonsson as Peter McVries … plus they filmed all of their dialogue while in perpetual motion! Uncluttered and intentional cinematography is used to emphasise the starkness of the environment and the gravity of the journey. With the tag line of “Walk or die” you go into this film knowing that 49 of the boys will be executed but it still doesn’t prepare you for the harrowing experience of watching their deaths unfold. It shakes you to your core and shatters you emotionally. Even if you feel ready, you won’t be. For a film to be considered phenomenal it needs to have impact, make you think, and stay with you for a very long time… this checks all of those boxes. Another outstanding Stephen King adaptation.