Mel Brooks believes comedy is the best effective tool against fascism, Stephen King believes it is friendship.  “The Long Walk” is based on the novella by Stephen King under his alias Richard Bachmann. King wrote it in 1966 when he was nineteen, but was published in 1979.  King wrote it as a metaphorical combative stance against the Vietnam war. Although those hallmarks are still noticeable in this film adaptation. The story seems far more poignant and prevalent now being released in 2025 in its theme. With its timing and bleak nature “The Long Walk” has the potential to be named one of the best adaptations of King’s work in an already cramped category. It is that powerful.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, who directed all the films in the “Hunger Games”  series. A sci-fi series that is set in an authoritarian dystopia which uses competitive sport to entertain and falsely inspire hope to the lower classes. A story that is uncanny  to the plot of this film.  It should also be noted the screenplay was written by JT Mollner, who wrote and directed one of my top ten horror films of last year “Strange Darling”. Both decide to dial back color, to a more earthy tone, organic tone mix that corresponds with in the military presence monitoring the walk. The plot revolves around a televised walk competition in an era not mentioned but cemented in a sixties nostalgia realm . There is no stopping, all participants must keep a pace with warning if you do not. After three warnings you are shot on sight and left on the road. The last one walking wins whatever they desire. 

King decides to build up a friendship rather than bitter rivals as they walk until one wins. A keen eye will notice that there is no finish line to this, nor is there a clock, much like war. They just go blindly toward, able to speak and converse with one another. Where this story is achieving is in its dialogue.  There is the classic Stephen King gore and gruesome scene, but that is not there to impress the horror fans, it is there to leave your heart sick. Even when the bully gets his just dessert it feels empty and shallow , just like what they are participating in. 

The film has a real palpable sense to it. It was smart to keep the camera moving with the walk rather than set down. The weather, the pain, the torment is all there. The nihilism is felt even in the costume of the characters. Nothing good is going to come out of this even though there is a promise it will. The Major, played wonderfully by Mark Hamill, spews inspiring hyperbole slogans, telling all of us that this competition is needed to show how great our country can be again. “The Long Walk” showed us that when America falls it will most certainly morph into reality t.v.  8/10