The Long Walk Review: Cooper Hoffman’s Film On Stephen King’s Novel Is Raw, Gory, But Deeply Moving!
The Long Walk was written by Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. Read here for more.
3.5 / 5
There have been multiple films made on the novels and stories written by Stephen King, and it’s hard to choose your favourite out of them. But since we have a new one- The Long Walk, I will call this my favourite. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film stars David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman in lead roles. It’s a dystopian horror survival sci-fi film where a bunch of youngsters join the deadliest game- Keep walking or die. The film strikes the right balance between telling us a horrifying yet heartwarming story. Keep reading as we break it down for you without spoilers. Read here for more.
Plot
The Long Walk has a simple plot, and yet if you look at it closely, in the 1 hour 47 minutes, the film unfolds on so many deeper levels. The plot follows a group of youngsters who participate in the game of walking, where there is no finish line and only one winner. The two lead characters are Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter McVries (David Jonsson). This competition is headed by The Major (Mark Hamill). There is just one rule that if any particpant walks below the minimum speed or stops at any point, they would get three warnings before the ticket. It’s either walk or die! As the plot progress, and the walk becomes difficult, many thought-provoking conversations happen among the characters, especially Raymond and Peter. The two build a bond of brotherhood on this journey.
What’s Good?
The Balance
The plot is not all violent and horrifying, it’s equally hard-hitting and has hearty moments too. The walk itself, and the consequences that comes along is scary and bone-chilling, and the violence is raw. However, amid this , the film also manages to give us moments of hope, brotherhood and giggles. This is developed through the characters and the dialogues exhanged between them. The conversations around life, death, vengeance, love and so much more instantly gets your attention and it is only interrupted by some character’s death.
The Performances
All the actors have done a phenomenon job in making their characters stand out from the bunch. Even while writing this review, I can recall a number of characters from the movie because of how the actors brought them to life, with each having their own traits. David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman were so honest with their performances that their on-screen chemistry did not even feel like acting. It was natural and very easy going!
The Cinematic Elements
The Long Walk is directed by Francis Lawrence, who also directed The Hunger Games: Chasing Fire. He has left no stones unturned to transport us to this dystopian world where the long walk becomes a metaphor for life. The film has many cinematic elements like barren lands, rainy nights, abandoned cities, mountains and many more abstract elements that creates an immersive and chilling atmosphere. Some shots of the characters just in their elements, walking silently, have more impact than words. Also horror in this film is life itself!
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What’s Lacking
Well, The Long Walk may not be a film to suit everyone’s taste. It can become very bloody and violent in intervals and that will not be enjoyable for many. The film has very close shots of guns being fired and, characters being shot right across their face. It can be too much to take!
Background Score
In some moments, the background score can be a little distracting and one might miss out on a few dialogues that the actors exchange. It’s recommended that you watch the film with subtitles.
Although, The Long Walk could use a few female characters and it would make the film more interesting!
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Verdict
The Long Walk is a very interesting adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. The performances, direction, storytelling and visuals all come together to keep you hooked throughout the film. So much so that I didn’t want to blink. The film will hit theatres on September 12.
Image Courtesy: The Long Walk Official Trailer
First Published: September 11, 2025 5:59 PM
