The Long Walk ★★★★

Stars: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Charlie Plummer

Director: Francis Lawrence

Writer: JT Mollner (based on the novel by Stephen King)

Where: In Cinemas from 12 September, 2025

Among what feels like never-ending Stephen King film adaptations, The Long Walk is surprisingly a standout with what is a bleak film that will stay with you for some time. With no supernatural forces or jump scares required, it remains a disturbing film looking at inevitable death from a simple tortuous game.

In a dystopian totalitarian world, fifty volunteers sign up for a life-changing contest in hopes of winning money and a wish for whatever they desire. The teenage boys must outwalk the others in a brutal knockout competition. It’s intense until the very end as the pressure mounts and connections grow, as although bleak, there also are some touching brotherly friendship moments, which sadly result in more gut-wrenching sequences.

From Stephen King’s short story, JT Mollner has crafted a clever script that ultimately tests the audience on how far they can watch; it is emotionally draining. The characters are well developed and rounded, and watching them bond is both fascinating and touching, adding many layers to the film’s very simple premise. It’s a surprising element that sets up devastating scenes but showcases that even within this rundown dystopian world, there will always be kindness and human connections. Mollner invests the contestants with varied personalities and more importantly, likability.

With Francis Lawrence (Hunger Games films, Water For Elephants) directing, it has a core DNA of the Hunger Games films but is more stripped back. Instead of fast editing sequences, there are long monologues intertwined with emotional scenes; large showpiece costumes and showy production is swapped for a gritty, dull, barren landscape; the larger post-apocalyptic world of Panem is replaced by a tighter focus showcasing The Long Walk. This is a darker totalitarian world that still has gorgeous visuals and Jeremiah Fraites‘ score perfectly contrasts the brutality on screen by pulling at audience’s emotions.

For a film that relies heavily on characters, the entire ensemble is incredible, but the film focuses on Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, and deservedly so, bringing heart into what is a dark world that surrounds them. The emotions they bring and their stories are undeniably compelling. The remaining ensemble members each have their moments to shine. Ben Wang lends the film a humorous tone, while Charlie Plummer plays an unlikable bully, to name only a few. While the only notable ‘grown-up’ role is played by Mark Hamill, who, as The Major, is certainly commanding in his portrayal but lacks a truly defining scene.

Overall, The Long Walk is one of the better Stephen King adaptations. With its compelling script, its directing style mining the bleakness of the world, and its talented ensemble, this an memorable movie experience. With its unlikely pairing of friendship and gore, those who enjoy disturbing movies should beat a path to the cinema.