Screen adaptations of Stephen King novels can be really hit or miss. Sometimes, the filmmaker and screenwriter(s) can really understand the foundation of the story being told or they can totally misrepresent it. And it’s also an undeniable fact that some of King’s works are better than others. I hadn’t heard of his 1979 novel The Long Walk (which King published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman) previously, but when I heard about the film, and saw that Francis Lawrence, who in the last decade has made several films in The Hunger Games franchise, was attached to direct, I was intrigued. And not having read The Long Walk, I can’t speak to what does or doesn’t work from an adaptive perspective, but I will say this is one of the strongest films to come from the Stephen King library in some time.

In an alternative American dystopia, ruled by a totalitarian regime, a contest is held every year called The Long Walk. In this contest, a group of young men apply to walk hundreds of miles, keeping at a speed of 3 miles per hour, and will be executed if they slow down. The contest keeps going until only one remains – and that person is set for life. There’s unbelievable wealth and fame for the winner, and all the others will die. Every person in this contest has their own reasons for entering, and only one will remain. 

The Long Walk is pretty close to essential filmmaking for the world we currently find ourselves living in. In the year 2025 in North America, we are alarmingly close to something like this being a reality and I think it’s imperative for audiences who have some media literacy left in them, to see this film and really think about what it’s trying to say. Francis Lawrence has obviously told this kind of story before, but we need to keep telling them until the world we live in finally learns something from them. Against all odds, this Stephen King adaptation feels like one of the most important films I’ve seen this year. It’s a brutal and bleak rallying cry and I sincerely hope audiences take this film seriously. But simply as a piece of storytelling, The Long Walk is harrowing, gripping and emotionally powerful. 

Cooper Hoffman plays our protagonist Ray, and he’s a steady emotional anchor for this story. We wonder why anyone would agree to take part in a contest like this, and it’s clear in this story that everybody has their own personal reasons for doing so. And what we learn about Ray’s backstory is devastating. Cooper Hoffman reminds me so much of his father, it’s almost distracting at certain points, but he’s proving himself to be a very talented actor in his own right. Ray becomes close with Pete (David Jonsson) and this film doesn’t work if this central bond doesn’t have the emotional heft it needs. Jonsson previously made a strong impression in last year’s Alien: Romulus, and he turns in another impressive performance here. He’s always exciting to watch, and the layers of this character that are slowly revealed, are increasingly fascinating.

We also have Charlie Plummer as Gary, who is initially framed as a villainous type, but there’s more going on with him than we originally thought. And I’ve been a fan of Plummer since Lean on Pete, and this film is proof that even in a smaller, seemingly less challenging role, he can do a lot with a little. Ben Wang, star of the recent Karate Kid sequel, is also a standout here. He’s got some moments that shattered me. Garett Wareing also makes a strong impression with limited screentime. We also have Judy Greer as Ray’s mother, and she will absolutely break your heart. And we have a near-unrecognizable Mark Hamill as the Major, the terrifying figure who is the ringleader of this entire endeavor. He’s here to be an intimidating, menacing figure and Hamill disappears into this role. You could argue that a lot of these characters feel more like ideas than fully developed people, but there are moments of grace and nuance in everyone’s performance.

JT Mollner, who last year wrote and directed the acclaimed thriller Strange Darling, also penned the screenplay here. I think his writing is a lot stronger than it was in that film – Strange Darling didn’t work for me for a number of reasons, but it was widely praised. His work here suggests a more promising career moving forward. Francis Lawrence brings back cinematographer Jo Willems, who worked with him on The Hunger Games films. And the camerawork isn’t trying to impress you, but effectively plants you right into the horror of this story, and even though everything unfolding onscreen is downright terrifying or terrifyingly sad, you can never look away.

The Long Walk feels like one of the most vital films for American audiences to see in the year 2025. If you’re paying attention to the state of this country right now, including but not limited to events that unfolded and are unfolding this very week, this film should scare the shit out of you. It’s a cautionary tale and a warning. This is incredibly bleak and upsetting viewing, and it’s not for the faint of heart, but I think it’s a film everyone should see right now. The Long Walk is a haunting, disturbing, violent and horrifying experience, but it’s one of the most important films you’ll see this year.