While the realm of Stephen King book adaptations mostly consists of famed horror stories like It (2017) and Pet Sematary (1989), King’s dramas have also created an impact like no other. The Green Mile (1999) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) not only demonstrate the emotional weight of the famed author’s drama-focused writing but also became award-winning all-time classics. While the latest adaptation of the great author’s work, The Long Walk (2025), doesn’t quite reach those heights, it still cements itself as another great addition to the ever-growing list of King adaptations.

The Long Walk is a relentlessly harrowing and brutal cinematic experience, melding incredible direction from Francis Lawrence with a sharp screenplay from screenwriter J.T. Mollner. With an incredible cast of performances on top of it all, the film creates an all too real mirror of the depressive state of our own modern America in this dystopian world. Even when the film leans a bit too much into telling us its character and story themes through large amounts of expository dialogue, it still results in one of the most impressive filmmaking achievements of the year, which never loosens its grip on the searing tension.

We follow the story of Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), a teenage boy who finally participates in an event known as “The Long Walk.” Every year, fifty boys stride along the many roads of the country until only one of them is left standing. The televised game is under a fascist government led by “The Major” (Mark Hamill), running the game’s rules of contestants only getting three warnings to walk at the speed of three miles per hour, and the sole winner getting one wish granted. 

With most contestants being riddled with poverty in dystopian America, they see the contest as their one chance to escape the hardship of their poverty-driven realities. Raymond ends up making friends during the walk, such as Peter McVries (David Jonsson) and Hank Olson (Ben Wang), but with every passing death of those who fail to survive the walk, they are constantly reminded of their own fate: a walk or die.

It’s obvious that the post fascism takeover of this world is a terrifying parallel to where real-life America currently resides under the Trump administration, and The Long Walk uses this current political climate to further add to the relentless tension. The dystopia of those ravaged by poverty being televised to create a more “productive society” is often very similar to the political themes of The Hunger Games franchise. Still, the film adds its own mortifying spin to the concept of battling against the oppression of a despicable government through a more brutal contest. Through ankle breaks, suicides, and even finding a way to poop while on the walk, the film never veers away from the harsh realities of the contest throughout the runtime.    

Unfortunately,  I wish Mollner’s script allowed us to linger more with the painful images of a fascist nightmare we see throughout the contest, rather than just presenting us with the characters’ thoughts and political themes through lengthy exposition. More subtext and nuance would’ve made the story more emotionally impactful, but you can still feel the stomach-churning real-world parallels that the movie wants to convey.

The bleak brutality of The Long Walk wouldn’t work nearly as well without great performances to back it up, and this cast delivers it so perfectly. Hoffman and Jonsson are not only the firm heart of the picture, but also provide small moments of levity. With Hank Olson (Wang) and Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot), Ray and Peter declare them the four musketeers while on the walk, a truly special and surprisingly humorous bond that’s all the more depressing when you know not all of them can survive. 

While the entire cast delivers, Jonsson is truly the standout with the most memorable performance of the ensemble. He often acts as the film’s heart of gold, acting as a sign of hope and inspiration to the rest of his group, always trying to make something good out of a grim conversation or a new death while on the journey. His brotherly connection with Hoffman throughout will bring many to the verge of tears, and with this performance and Alien Romulus (2024) on his mantle, it’s clear that Jonsson is a star in the making. 

On top of this all, Francis Lawrence’s magnetic direction from his Hunger Games films is just as impactful within The Long Walk. While Hunger Games was geared for teenagers and adults to both be able to connect with it, Lawrence doesn’t pull any punches here with even more serious subject matter. The violence is so vicious, and the way it’s filmed brings more wincing and depression to bone cracks and gunshots in the middle of the street. 

A feeling I could never shake was one of feeling like you’re on the walk with these characters, breathing and trudging step by step with them through more pain and hardships that you may not even think about while on this journey. It truly makes the experience of watching The Long Walk one that won’t leave my mind anytime soon.

Even if The Long Walk isn’t quite an all-time classic, it remains an unflinching experience that will stick with me as not only one of the year’s most ruthless films but one of the best book-to-film transfers. Paired with sharp direction, an excellent crop of performances, and a chilling reflection of the fascist takeover we are currently witnessing, The Long Walk will stand as one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations to be put on the silver screen. 

Review Courtesy of Joshua Mbonu

Feature Image Credit to Lionsgate via The Hollywood Reporter