When discussing films based upon the works of Stephen King, people tend to think along two categories: horror and…not-horror. In the first camp are classics of the big screen like Carrie (1976), Christine (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), Misery (1990), and It (2017) and small: Salem’s Lot (1979), The Stand (1994), Storm of the Century (1999), and of course It (1990). The second group contains movies that people, especially those who don’t care for horror, will deny were written by King like Stand By Me (1986), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and The Green Mile (1999).
The Long Walk strides along with one foot firmly in each camp. It does not contain any supernatural elements. In fact, it is possible to claim that the film is only categorized as horror because of the connection to King. The world portrayed in the film, however, is definitely horrific as well as horrifying possible.
The tagline of the film explains the basic premise “The task is simple: Walk or Die.” A group of young men are chosen from a nationwide group of volunteers to compete in an annual competition where the winner receives a large monetary prize and is granted one wish. The Long Walk honors those who died during “The War.” There is no finish line, there are no time outs. The contestants must maintain a pace of at least three miles per hour at all times. If they drop below this, they get a warning. If they do not return to speed or fall below three miles per hour within an hour they get a second warning.
The third warning is a bullet to the brainpan.
Director Francis Lawrence (Constantine, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2) does a great job of translating the material to the screen. The cinematography beautifully displays the isolation of the area being walked through, the desolation of the towns and the people in them, and the unexpected beauty of certain moments. While the original novel is a reaction to the unrest of the late 60s, Lawrence manages to both update the film and give it a timeless quality. It is easy to believe that it is taking place any time, including the present or near future.
The highlight of the film is the acting. Every member of the ensemble cast does an amazing job. The two leads, Cooper Hoffman (Raymond Garraty #47) and David Jonsson (Peter McVries #23) have an amazing on screen chemistry. The quickly formed friendship between the two is completely believable. We share in their happiness and horror. Jonsson, who was the stand out in last year’s Alien: Romulus, shines once again. One almost wishes that The Long Walk was not classified as horror so Jonsson has a better chance come award season.
The Long Walk does not shy away from the gore. However, it is the bonding between the walkers that makes each death horrific. Over the course of the film we get to know them, understand why they were motivated to volunteer, and share in their tragedy when one fails to succeed.
The book which the film is based upon is one of a number of books published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman (another of the Bachman books, The Running Man, is due to be released later this year and is rumored to be a more faithful adaptation than the 1987 release). While there are definite changes to the story, they make for a more cohesive, emotionally devastating film.
The Long Walk may not be the kind of horror which will have you jump in your seat, but it is definitely the kind which will stay with you long after you leave the theater. This one is a must see.
Hailing from the motor city Detroit, Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. He has served as an officer in the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers and is the editor of the Erie Tales anthologies. Michael is the Editor in Chief of Dragon’s Roost Press and his works have appeared in a number of collections including DOA: Extreme Horror, Dead Science, Vicious Verses and Reanimated Rhymes, ), and the collaborative steampunk novel Army of Brass. He is a kilt enthusiast. And he’s killin’ it over at thedragonsroost.biz.