Walking Through Fascism: The Brutal Brilliance of "The Long Walk"

[the following review is spoiler-free]

In 1966, an unknown author named Richard Bachman began working on his first book while studying at the University of Maine. It was an angry, graphic, thinly veiled response to the Vietnam War and a warning against the dangers of fascism. Eight years later this author would publish his first official novel, this time going under a different pen name: Stephen King. Nearly six decades later, that first story of his, The Long Walk has finally been adapted into a feature film and is perhaps King's most harrowing work to date.

The Long Walk is a story that's easy to follow: 50 teenage boys are picked to compete in the ultimate test of endurance. The lone winner will be granted unimaginable riches and a singular wish. The test is simple: walk or die. Anyone who finds themselves unable to finish will be shot on site, friendships will be formed along the way but only one will come out alive. It's a straightforward concept, but those who look beneath the surface will find that this film is about much more than just a walk.

The film takes place in the near future in a totalitarian United States, where the vast majority of the population are destitute. The only hope that most people have of elevating their station in life is by winning this contest designed to boost morale and disavow laziness. It's incredibly similar to The Hunger Games, whose films coincidentally shares the same director, Francis Lawrence. The character dynamics will also lead audiences to draw similarities between the Losers Club from Stephen King's It.

Major, major props are owed to this particular cast, mostly consisting of young actors like Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyot, and Ben Wang, all of whom give absolutely stellar performances. Most of these characters don't even have much screen time, but they're played with such charisma that you'll feel your heart shatter with every new elimination. This is also a triumph of Stephen King who was able to pump these characters full of so much personality and life despite their limited appearances. The film also marks the return of Roman Griffin Davis, known for his leading role in 2019's Jojo Rabbit, earning him a Golden Globe nomination at age 11. The only performance in this film that didn't blow me out of the water was Mark Hamill as The Major, who unfortunately came off as more of a cartoon villain than a foreboding authority figure.

The Long Walk is a film that only gets stronger once you learn about some behind-the-scenes context. Filmmaker, Francis Lawrence is most known for directing the last three Hunger Games films, which starred the late acting legend, Philip Seymour Hoffman. This time around, Lawrence is directing Hoffman's son, Cooper in a lead role, playing a character who just so happens to be grieving the recent loss of his father. Granted, this is something audiences won't know unless they do a little digging and connect the dots, but this made the film feel more personal and greatly increased my appreciation.

There is a noticeable subtext in this film about colonialism for those well-versed in American history. Multiple tribes like the Cherokee and the Navajo have been subjected to grueling death-marches at the hands of European settlers. In that regard, the inclusion of indigenous character, Collie Parker feels undeniably intentional. Expertly played by Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg actor, Joshua Odjick, the manner of Parker's elimination is crucial to The Long Walk's anti-colonial message as well as a standout scene in the film.

I find myself more and more in awe of The Long Walk the more I think about it. I believe it's a film that will reward multiple watches and is bound to capture audiences just like The Hunger Games did.

Something that audiences probably will not expect however, is the sheer amount of gore this film has to offer. Every time a character is eliminated, they are shot with a carbine rifle and the camera never pulls away from the action. Nothing is left up to the imagination, all of the carnage is on full display. Most will find this jarring and maybe even unnecessary, but it does drive the film's message home, because although this is a fictional story it has a very real and relevant message about fascism that simply cannot be ignored any longer.

I went into The Long Walk expecting a tried and true Stephen King horror movie, but what I watched was ten times more thought-provoking than I'd imagined. Hopefully it inspires American audiences to examine their country's history and politics, in addition to being a springboard for every talented young actor involved.

2025 has been a strong year for film, and The Long Walk is simply unmissable. I implore you to catch it in theaters starting September 12th.