“The Long Walk” is a Great Stephen King Film (Review)

Stephen King is such a prolific and talented author that, despite the fact that grade-A filmmakers have been tackling and adapting his work for six decades, the well has yet to run dry. This has been especially evident in the past decade or so since the success of Andy Muschietti’s It: Chapter One, as it feels like we’ve been getting at least one, if not multiple, King adaptations per year ever since.

The latest of these, The Long Walk, takes Stephen King’s first-ever written novel (though it was not the first published—that honor goes to Carrie, and even when it was published years later in 1979, it was accredited to King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman) and brings it to the silver screen with aplomb.

TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT “THE LONG WALK”

5. JT Mollner’s Stellar Script

After decades spent in various stages of development, with King acolytes such as Frank Darabont and André Øvredal set to tackle it at different points, the iteration that has finally made it to the big screen is directed by Francis Lawrence and penned by filmmaker JT Mollner. For those unfamiliar with his work, Mollner wrote and directed the breakout thriller Strange Darling in 2023, which relied on an unconventional narrative structure and constant rug-pulling to elicit responses from the audience. While Strange Darling could be inventive in spurts, it ultimately felt a bit hollow.

Fortunately, Mollner’s scripting for The Long Walk could not be further from that impression. He delivers a stellar adaptation, preserving the core elements and themes of King’s novel in a succinct fashion while crafting a compelling, character-driven story rooted in high-stakes tension. Even the subtle shifts he makes to ensure the novel’s prescient political themes resonate in a modern context are handled with precision and clarity, enhancing the story without overshadowing its central narrative.

4. Superb Performances

The film features an ensemble cast, all of whom deliver remarkable performances. By its very nature, The Long Walk’s concept of fifty young men embarking on a televised competition necessitates a large cast capable of making an impression quickly. The film’s success is a testament to the strength of its supporting actors, including Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, and, of course, Mark Hamill. Special praise is due to Judy Greer, whose role is brief but utterly devastating.

Above these strong supporting turns are the film’s two shining lights: Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson in the dual lead roles. These two are among the most exciting young performers in the industry today, and watching them bring Mollner’s script to life through compelling moments of interpersonal chemistry, camaraderie, and conflict is nothing short of astonishing.

Their performances are layered and nuanced, capturing the high stakes and emotional depth of the narrative while making the audience deeply invested in their characters’ fates.

Ultimately, Hoffman and Jonsson cement themselves as actors to watch, delivering performances that elevate The Long Walk from a gripping adaptation to a must-see cinematic experience.

3. Francis Lawrence’s Direction

I’ve always had a soft spot for Francis Lawrence. I enjoyed Constantine and I Am Legend, and I think The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is genuinely strong. While I was disappointed by his two-part Mockingjay films, I found his return to the franchise with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to be maybe my favorite work of his. In this light, I’m delighted to report that The Long Walk further showcases Lawrence pushing the boundaries of his craft, delivering some of his finest work to date, if not his absolute best.

Lawrence excels at taking ideas embedded in King’s novel and Mollner’s script—such as the nature of masculine relationships, the use of entertainment as a pacifying tool, and the toll of political unrest on youth—and diving deeply into authentic explorations of these themes. His direction ensures that these concepts feel organic and impactful, never forced or superficial.

Additionally, the decision to place audiences squarely with the central characters pays immense dividends. There are no cutaways to spectators at home, no distracting B-plots—just the young men on the walk. Lawrence has the courage to immerse viewers fully, creating a sense of intimacy that is occasionally invasive.

This immersive approach amplifies the performances, allowing the emotional beats to land with maximum weight and making the audience feel the stakes of every step, struggle, and choice alongside the characters.

2. What’s Up With That Ending?

Cards on the table: I don’t hate the ending of The Long Walk, but I can’t say I love it either. From a production standpoint, the final scene doesn’t feel nearly as grand or monumental as the seemingly ADR-heavy dialogue of characters like Mark Hamill’s The Major tries to convince us it is. There’s a noticeable disconnect between what the film intends this moment to feel like and the actual impact, which creates a sense of dissonance.

Adding to this, the resolution of the characters, the competition, and the central themes feels underdeveloped and muddled at best. It’s such a stark departure from the tonal consistency and cohesion of the rest of the film that it almost feels like a last-minute reshoot, because it doesn’t fully integrate with the narrative that came before.

1. A Great King Film

But at the end of the day, would I even be a true Stephen King fan if I couldn’t stomach a weirdly underwhelming ending to an otherwise phenomenally well-crafted work? I’ve endured the final pages of Misery; I know that sometimes you have to accept a flawed ending alongside a great story. In these ways and more, The Long Walk stands as a great King adaptation, through and through.

RGM GRADE

(B+)

With an incredibly strong script, great direction, and two of the best performances of the year at its center, The Long Walk is a harrowing, thought-provoking, and ultimately incredibly compelling film.