Stephen King’s newest book-to-movie adaptation, “The Long Walk,” premiered this past Friday 9/12 and viewers are already saying it’s his best adaptation yet. Based on one of the first books King ever wrote, and directed by Francis Lawrence (known for directing The Hunger Games movies), the film’s premise seems simple: walk or die.
Set in a dystopian American future in which a war placed the country in huge financial debt, 50 teenage boys – one from each state – are chosen from a voluntary lottery to participate in the infamous “Long Walk.” The rules? Walk at a consistent pace of three miles per hour until you can’t anymore. If you slow for any reason, you receive a warning. After three warnings, you’re killed.
Based on the premise alone, the film has the potential to be extremely tragic and depressing. And don’t get me wrong, there are definitely a lot of sad moments. The unexpected and shocking deaths are tear-inducing, and you’re more than likely going to want to step into the screen and give each and every one of the boys a hug. However, that’s not all the film is about.
Centering around Ray Garraty (played by Cooper Hoffman) and the friendship he develops with Pete McVries (played by David Jonsson), the movie has plenty of moments that exhibit hope, teamwork, strength, and perseverance. It teaches audiences that you can’t get anywhere without a support system to lean on – sometimes literally. As Garraty, McVries, and the other friends they make along the way attempt to cheat death as their bodies slowly break down, it becomes clear that making it on their own is next to impossible.
So while potential viewers might be hesitant about the movie because of its sad nature, it is definitely worth the watch. The unique premise and cinematography, on top of the genuine and complex characters, make the film so captivating that you can never look away. The plot twists and secret character backstories add another layer to it, building up to an ending that you will never expect and that will stick with you for hours after you leave the theater.
If you need another reason to go watch it, the fact that Mark Hamill stars as The Major – the main antagonist that almost asks you to hate him – might do the trick.
With all that said, what’s stopping you from entering into King’s masterful dystopia and seeing how you would do when faced with “The Long Walk?”
Junior Emily Myers is a Staff Writer for the College Reporter. Her email is emyers3@fandm.edu.