The Long Walk Review: A Flat Adaptation That Fails to Leave a Mark
Adapted from Stephen King’s 1979 novel, The Long Walk follows a group of 50 young men who are drafted to walk for their state. Directed by Hunger Games filmmaker Francis Lawrence, the story feels reminiscent of his famous franchise. But here’s the twist: these men voluntarily apply for the lottery to take part in this deadly “competition,” where the last man standing is granted one wish and endless riches. Televised for the entire country, the goal is simple: walk until you can’t walk anymore, maintaining a speed of 3.0 miles per hour. For some, their hearts will give out; for others, their legs simply won’t carry them any farther. Each contestant gets three warnings before a soldier “punches their ticket” out of the game—permanently.
But who is determined enough to win? The story focuses on Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), who has home-field advantage since the competition takes place in his home state. However, Ray’s reason for joining the game runs deeper than it first appears. Alongside him is Peter McVries (David Jonsson), who seems untouchable—never tiring, eating, or drinking—making him the clear front-runner. While there are moments of action, mostly in the form of gunshots (tickets being punched) or tense arguments, the film doesn’t give audiences much else to latch onto. We do learn Ray’s true motivation—to kill the Major—and Peter’s goal of creating a better future for kids like him, but beyond that, there’s not much depth.
I couldn’t help but think that Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games author) must have been heavily inspired by The Long Walk. Unfortunately, this film lacks emotional connection to its main characters. The script feels flat, offering little detail beyond the two leads, and it doesn’t build the world around them. There’s no backstory explaining how the country came to host such a competition, what drives the Major (Mark Hamill), or what’s happening within this dystopian nation. At least The Hunger Games showed spectators, fanfare, and how society was captivated by the bloodsport. As a home viewer, I would find myself bored and tempted to turn it off.
From early on, it was easy to predict the outcome. Yes, I know the book’s ending differs from the film’s, but the winner was obvious from the start. When Ray sees his mother near the end, it’s clear he regrets everything and longs to go home. But in this game, “going home” is only possible if you survive. Peter steps in to push Ray forward, and they walk a bit longer—until Ray suddenly stops, accepting his fate, and gets his ticket punched.
The buildup just wasn’t there for me. The film felt forgettable, like a pale echo of The Hunger Games. Yes, King’s novel came first, but this adaptation still felt boring. I wanted to see deeper character development and more opportunities to connect with the walkers, which would’ve made their deaths meaningful. The same goes for Peter and Ray—more flashbacks or emotional moments in the script could have made Ray’s death hit harder. Overall, this is a film I’ll likely forget by the end of the year. I understand why they chose Francis Lawrence to direct, but he fails to distinguish this story from The Hunger Games. Leaving the story falling flat.
How far could you walk?
Overall 3/5
