Sep 10

Sep 10 FILM REVIEW: "THE LONG WALK" STRUTS CONFIDENTLY

Stephen King, horror maestro, has made a career frightening us with his freaky premises. How, you may ask, could Mister King possibly make walking down a road scary? Well, dear reader, what if Mark Hamill was behind you with a gun the whole time!

Set in a dystopian America, fifty young adults partake in the Long Walk, an annual game with one winner and a simple set of rules: walk or die!

The Long Walk is as it says: a long walk. The film follows a gruelling 300-mile wander without rest, with an army escort at its spine eager to shoot any stragglers or dissidents. It's a premise that could easily end be boring; thankfully, the powers that be succeed in making most of The Long Walk’s steps count.

Based off a 1974 Stephen King novel of the same name, The Long Walk reunites director Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games franchise) with his favourite plot synopsis: young adults being murdered during a live gameshow. Lawrence captures much of the anxiety and dread lovingly crafted within his Hunger Games features and transfer it effectively to this quasi-spinoff. Screenwriter J.T. Mollner (Strange Darling) does a commendable job extending King’s novel to feature length - shedding a few layers of grimness, replacing it with comradery - though some stray character motivations momentarily drag the quality down.

What The Long Walk lacks in high-octane excitement it makes up for in performance. One of the film's most intense moments revolves around a sleepy guy having to walk up a steep hill - it doesn't sound intense, but it truly is. The film is at its best when its cast of astounding young actors chat amongst themselves or face certain death. Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza), Ben Wang, Tut Nyuot and Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit) give standout performances amidst a cast that all deserve praise - but it is Charlie Plummer and David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus) who wander ahead of the pack. Though the deaths can get repetitive, they are always devastating, especially with a cast this committed.

The only miss-steps The Long Walk makes are in its cinematography and soundtrack, both perfectly serviceable, but do little to lift the film beyond its main route. For a film about people walking in a straight line, commendations must be given, The Long Walk makes the trip efficient and enjoyable.

With great performances and a palpable sense of doom, The Long Walk is a powerful thriller that will keep your breath in your throat and your feet on the floor. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest theatre!