The Long Walk Review: A Death March To The End

The Long Walk is one of Stephen King’s creations brought to life, and unlike the regular horror stories we know him for, this one brings a different kind of sting. It was released in cinemas on 12th September 2025, this Hollywood thriller was directed by Francis Lawrence, with a screenplay written by JT Mollner.

The Long Walk is an adaptation of King’s novella, a story that places 50 young men on a journey they cannot control, chasing a reward that only one of them will claim. It is as much about survival as it is about despair. The film mixes tension, pain, and the fragile beauty of hope. With familiar faces like Ben Wang, David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman, and Tut Nyuot, the movie offers a mix of young talent that feels fresh and alive.

I walked into the cinema expecting horror in its usual form—blood, screams, and supernatural dread. What I got instead was a grim yet strangely soulful tale that questioned what it means to keep moving forward, even when your body and spirit want to stop.

Premise

At the heart of The Long Walk lies its dystopian setting. Fifty boys, most of them in their late teens or very early twenties, are forced to participate in a deadly endurance contest. For most of them, it is not truly voluntary. The competition is shrouded in manipulation, disguised as a grand tradition when in fact it is a test of survival.

The film opens with Raymond Garraty, a young man from Maine, receiving his digital acceptance letter. His place in the contest has been confirmed, and he must now walk for his town. Garraty’s mother, unable to hide her sorrow, accompanies him to the border where the walk begins. She pleads with him to reconsider, but Garraty is determined, convinced that he will endure.

The walkers are introduced to the cruel simplicity of the rules: participants cannot drop below a pace of three miles per hour, they cannot stop, and they cannot stray from the road. A warning is issued for each violation, but three warnings equal death. Soldiers follow closely in trucks, rifles ready to enforce these rules without hesitation. Unlike a game show, this is not entertainment but execution paraded as tradition.

Garraty quickly meets Peter McVries, and soon after Hank Olson and Baker. Their conversations are brief, interrupted by the arrival of the Major, a high-ranking official of the authoritarian regime that now rules America. The Major is imposing, calculated, and frighteningly calm as he distributes number tags and repeats the merciless rules.

The first miles of the walk unfold slowly, with the boys testing each other’s endurance. Then the reality of the situation comes crashing in when Curly, one of the participants, begins to falter. Cramps cripple his stride, and despite encouragement from McVries, he collapses. A soldier raises his rifle and, without pause, fires the shot. Curly becomes the first to die on the road after walking 17 miles, leaving the rest of the boys horrified.

As the walk continues, more participants fall. The boys walk for 103 miles and counting, each telling their stories, bonding, and dying along the way. However, there is only one winner, and only one wish, despite all the heartfelt stories; only one gets to make it out alive.

Cast and Performances

David Jonsson as McVries

David Jonsson’s portrayal of Peter McVries is deeply moving. His performance gives the film its philosophical center. McVries is resilient, selfless, and compassionate, qualities that Jonsson embodies with striking conviction. His voice carries a commanding weight, reminiscent of a preacher offering hope to the weary. Every word he speaks feels like a lifeline to those around him. He is the character who reminds us that even in the darkest of circumstances, humanity can survive.

Cooper Hoffman as Garraty

Cooper Hoffman delivers a packed and emotional performance as Garraty. The character is complex, filled with rage, confusion, and a desperate need for meaning. Hoffman portrays the delicate balance between Garraty’s terror and determination. His breakdowns are something you would feel, especially when he wanted to run off and hug his mother. That scene shows how little things taken for granted aren’t so little.

Tut Nyuot as Baker

Tut Nyuot was a standout for me. He brought warmth and optimism to the role of Baker, a boy whose reason for walking was deeply personal, his promise to his grandmother for a better life. Tut plays Baker with warmth and optimism, making his presence on screen a comforting contrast to the brutality around him. His character seems to carry the most burden. He played his character as a joyful and optimistic fella. I wished he had a backstory, a deeper one, I wanted to relate to his character so badly.

Ben Wang as Olson

Ben Wang, known for his role in Karate Kid: Legends, brings his sharp energy to Olson. Although the script does not offer Olson as much backstory, Wang makes him memorable. His portrayal captures intelligence and curiosity, with hints of unspoken pain. He feels like a character who deserved more, but Wang makes the most of every moment given to him.

What I Liked

What I admired most about The Long Walk is its ability to make me feel something real. After watching it, I found myself walking home instead of ordering a cab, as though I wanted to briefly share in the resilience the characters embodied. Of course, I gave up after a few steps, but the thought stayed with me.

The film surprised me because I expected Stephen King’s usual brand of horror, perhaps something supernatural or grotesque. Instead, I was met with a tale about endurance, trust, and the thin line between hope and despair. It reminded me of The Hunger Games, but stripped of spectacle. The stakes were painfuI to watch.

I also appreciated the way the film explored connection and delusions. The boys joked about what they would do if they won, even though deep down they knew only one of them would live. That fragile hope, the conversations about dreams that would never come true, made the movie more heartbreaking than frightening.

What I Didn’t Like

The biggest disappointment for me was the labeling of this movie as horror. It simply wasn’t. Yes, there was blood. Yes, death was constant. But fear in the traditional horror sense was absent. It was disturbing, but not frightening, and I felt the marketing team leaned into the wrong genre.

I also struggled with how underdeveloped some characters felt. Many of the boys had stories worth telling, but their arcs ended before they even began. Even the reveal that the Major’s son was among the walkers felt rushed, introduced only to shock before cutting it off with his death. That twist deserved more weight, more build-up.

The movie carried potential for greatness, but at times it felt like the filmmakers pulled back when they should have pushed forward. They leaned into a spectacle that felt off when they could have dug into emotional depth.

Verdict

Forget the trailers and marketing. The Long Walk is not a horror film in the traditional sense. Similar to The Squid Game, it is a brutal meditation on endurance, loss, and fleeting hope. Do not go into the cinemas expecting jump scares; you will be disappointed, because it is not the conventional horror we are used to. But if you allow yourself to sink into its slower rhythm, you will find a story that lingers long after the credits roll.

This is a movie that men, young and old, could watch together and walk out discussing for hours. It challenges the idea of strength, questions the purpose of survival, and asks what we are willing to endure for a chance at a better future.

My Rating

The Long Walk earns a strong 4 out of 5.

Our Rating of This Movie

Have you seen The Long Walk yet? Who was your favourite walker amongst all 50 of them?

Author

Amarachi Ndukwe

Amarachi Ndukwe is a talented movie reviewer who knows how to make films easy to understand and fun to discuss. She shares her thoughts in a clear and engaging way, helping her readers see what makes each movie special. With a great eye for detail, she explains stories, themes, and characters in a way that anyone can enjoy.