Verdict: 3.5/5
The Long Walk, a Stephen King novel published in 1979, follows the journey of several young men competing in a country-wide competition to win riches beyond their wildest dreams.
The boys must walk across the country in a never ending march with no destination. The premise is simple: walk or die.
Set in an alternate timeline in which America was left in poverty after failed war efforts, ‘The Long Walk’ is a nation-wide competition, for which every boy of age applies in the hope of securing financial freedom for his family, and one wish that must be granted to him under any circumstances.
The story centres around a core group of boys and follows them through the highs and lows of this journey, and the brutal reality of what they’ve signed up for.
I am a big fan of Stephen King and ‘The Long Walk’. The premise of the competition alone is enticing to those who enjoy a good dystopian thriller, and seeing the violence and barbarity on screen brings the book’s themes to life.
There were a few changes to the story and characters that I wasn’t a fan of, mainly changing the entire ending. I understand why the changes were made, but without revealing any spoilers, I think the reinterpretation of the ending was disappointing, and not true to the characters King created. Other changes such as switching back stories to different characters, seemed needless and didn’t add anything to the story, except confusion for those who’ve read the book.
Overall however, this is a great character story, meaning the boys themselves are fleshed out and largely multidimensional. Over the course of the film you are drawn in to care about these boys and see yourselves in them. Believing they are real, with families, lives and unique personalities, makes the depravity of the Walk seem even more intense. Although it is stated that the boys volunteer for this competition, it’s clear that no one volunteers out of want, rather, out of need.
This film is a great example of human strength, both physically and mentally. It’s a gripping, nailbiting hour and 48 minutes, and will have you glued to the screen.
See this movie at Event Cinemas Penrith.
Madeline Dantier is the author of the Experience Parramatta series, hosted by Parra News.