Stephen King seems to be the flavour of the month at the moment. With the excellent Life of Chuck recently released, a TV series based on the novel It, Welcome To Derry, coming soon, and a new version of The Running Man in November, King’s wealth of novels and short stories seems to be attracting movie and TV producers alike. The Long Walk, a book he wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, was written in the 70s, and while this is a gruelling, depressing story, it feels incredibly relevant.

America is experiencing an economic downturn, and to boost morale, a competition is held where the winner wins riches beyond their wildest dreams, as well as one solitary wish. The contest involves walking as far as possible, with only one winner. Fall under the allotted speed of 3mph and you get a warning. Three warnings and you are shot.

That is the premise of this tale, so you are going to be watching a group of young men walking. There’s no finish line; they just keep going until there is only one. That may sound like the least interesting plot you’ve heard, but trust me when I say, this is a film brimming with tension, with suspense and with heart, as we follow these young men trying to capture an impossible dream.

Directed by The Hunger Games helmer, Francis Lawrence, this dystopian tale has the same feel as his previous film. You learn about the characters as they play the game. King is often at his best when writing characters, and here it is fully utilised. We learn about the key players, a group who bond as they take painful step after painful step. Each has their own reasons for being there. Each has a backstory that they share with the rest of the group. They bicker and insult each other, yet they also care. This is the film’s greatest strength.

Focusing on Ray Garretty, a young man driven by personal reasons to take on the challenge, which becomes apparent as the story unfolds, he forms a bond with Pete, a man who embodies strength, courage, and a natural leadership ability. Along the way, these men face impossible odds as one by one, they are chopped down. As the film progresses, it becomes harder to see these people drop by the wayside, as we learn more about them.

These brutal dystopian dramas are becoming more frequent as we descend into the events of the world. There are moments you find yourself recognising what is happening in America today, which, considering this is based on a story from the 70s, just goes to show how even back then, there was fear of governments doing the wrong thing. It also plays heavily on the emotions and the psychology of the participants, so you wonder how you could cope with such a competition.

The cast is excellent, with Cooper Hoffman, the son of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who made such an impressive debut in Licorice Pizza, as Ray, the central figure, who brings an element of caring and understanding to each of the contestants and who is just as horrified as we are when they are disposed of. British actor David Jonsson, who was so good in the romantic comedy Rye Lane and as the android in Alien: Romulus, is superb here as Pete, the laid-back walker who befriends Ray. The surprise of the film is Mark Hamill as the Major, the sadistic leader of the walkers, who stands on the back of a jeep spouting less than encouraging sayings to the walkers. A far cry from Luke Skywalker.

The Long Walk is a tough, uncomfortable watch and a film that may be difficult to revisit. Yet it is skillfully made with a strong script from a terrific source material. Don’t expect lightness and fluffiness; this is brutal, violent, and sometimes sickening. Yet it’s another worthy entry to the best of one of America’s most prolific authors.

4 out of 5

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzales, Joshua Odjick

Written by JT Mollner and (based on the novel) Stephen King

Running Time: 108 mins

Cert: 15

Release date: 12th September 2025