The Long Walk – Review

Another post-apocalyptic scenario is presented in The Long Walk, based on a Stephen King short story. This one mirrors Battle Royale and The Hunger Games in a few ways, but is mostly a psychological horror drama told through dialogue of the characters in the film and virtually little else. In the post-war world presented, it is hard to get ahead. There are the haves, and the have-nots, and nothing much in-between.

The lottery chooses the annual 50 boys for a “long walk” competition, which will only have one winner. The contest is literally just walking as long as you can, day and night, with no finish line. If you slow down below three miles per hour, you get a warning. If you don’t get going again quickly, you get a second warning, with the third warning being moments away from the end of it all, and your ticket is punched.

Leading this competition is a rough and rugged Major (Hamill), who ‘motivates’ the boys with his speeches, as well as army men with carbines. This year’s long walk is just like any other, and full of young men looking to win it. This event inspires patriotism and production in the rest of the county, as it typically sits in severe depression. Workers are inspired by the young men walking and a boost in work ethic is the annual result. Why are the men in the contest? They all hope to be the lone winner, getting a heap of cash, and being granted “a single wish.”

In this competition, we get to know most of the young men, and get a taste of their stories and the world around them. As they walk, they talk, and form bonds, or make enemies. The grueling event is made even more harrowing by the army men with guns, who immediately end contestants’ lives when their warnings have gone unheeded. How long do you think YOU can walk for?

The performances in this film are quite stellar, as friendships made feel authentic, and most every ticket punched is a hit directly to the gut. The viewer, and the boys in the film all know the end results, which is that only one of these young men will make it through. This tension, along with the excellent performances makes for a sad, yet mostly moving event. While not the feel-good tale of the year, it is very well done and succeeds in what it sets out to do.

There is plenty to think about, and a lot to admire about the film. That being said, it is also hard to imagine that a human being can keep moving non-stop for literally days on end. I think that the brain starts to lose its abilities without sleep, so that part was a bit of a stretch for me, though they do sort of try to explain this lack of rest scenario. Regardless, the directing and acting were sound and the film is worth a jog through.