Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

This dystopian thriller, adapted by Stephen King’s novel of the same name, follows 50 contestants who compete for untold riches and one wish.

There is so much richness in this ultimately simple film. Firstly the dystopia. We get an idea of the desolate state of the world from the glimpses we catch in the periphery. We are tethered to the road like the ‘contestants’, but we feel the poverty, the desperation, and the taught wool humanity pulls over its eyes by being purveyors of this horrific televised ‘competition’.

Despite the futuristic society The Long Walk felt true. It felt human. This was due to the easy relationship between David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman (unrecognisable from Licorice Pizza (2021), which I didn’t love — but I digress). Together they lead a story that was macabre, grim and so visceral it was hard to watch… and yet somehow beautiful.

I love a good walk-and-talk and a character study, and this film had both in spades. Each mile revealed something new about who the contestants were, why they were on this journey and what unattainable wish they held tentatively in their hearts. We’re back to the humanity of the heart of this movie because they are us. We’re all on the same path but walking alone with our struggles. The best we can hope for is a friend to walk part of the road alongside us.

There is one character who, while the men take on The Long Walk, is trapped in The Long Wait. Judy Greer, playing the role of Hoffman’s character’s mother, is the only women in this movie. However, despite having less than 10 minutes of screen time she delivered one hell of a performance. If Isabella Rossellini can get an Oscar Nomination for the same amount of screen time for her role in Conclave (2024) (no shade – I loved Conclave) then Greer should be nominated for The Long Walk.

This movie really puts The Proclaimers’ “500 Miles” into perspective and for the record, I would’ve sat down at mile four and called it a day.