The Wasteland Reviewer

The Long Walk (2025) Written Review

What story found Stephen King at his most prophetic? Unfortunately…that title might have to go to The Long Walk. There is an authoritarian regime that has taken over America. Check. A rampant strain of toxic masculinity has warped the perspectives of young men. Check. We cannot really afford too many more similarities…but King certainly has plenty of uncomfortable and shocking moments up his sleeve with this haunting. Our society today feels like it is only marginally ahead of this reality where young men volunteer for a walking competition where only one young man can possibly survive (and has a massive fortune and a single wish awaiting them). Francis Lawrence, who knows a thing or two about cinematic dystopia with The Hunger Games, takes the reins of King’s story. 

How well does Lawrence bring this horrific yet beautifully humanistic story to life? First off, Lawrence knows how to capture this horrifically brutal experience. There are not punches pull when you witness close-ups of these young men getting shot. Blood and guts fly in the most uncomfortable of ways. There is a great line of dialogue inferring how unfortunate it would be for all the kills to feel more normal. Lawrence takes that to heart because each kill as the film gets closer to the end becomes harder. The pacing is excellent with this story keeping you engaged. There is enough tragedy spaced out to keep snapping you back to reality. The horrors of these deaths soon become more emotional, and Lawrence delivers plenty of emotional devastating moments. This film is emotionally devastating and you just might find yourself bawling your eyes out. Haunting, harrowing, and moving…Lawrence captures that perfect balance of the horrors and the humanity of King’s story. Kudos to The Lumineers alum Jeremiah Fraites for delivering a layered and deeply affecting score. Cinematographer Jo Willems frames every shot perfectly too. The character moments are so intimate, and the camerawork reflects that. The camera is so aware of every moment, and the audience sees each death perfectly framed every time. 

How does Mollner translate King’s work to deliver such an engrossing experience? This film is such an impressive feat of adaptation. One of the most effective and surprising aspects of The Long Walk is its representation of young male friendship. Mollner’s script leaves plenty of space to develop the characters and their burgeoning friendships. The dynamic between Raymond and Peter is rich, sincere, and authentic in a way few films are captured. The added layer of their fellow “Musketeers” builds so much empathy that it is devastating once some of them begin to die. Mollner finds so many layers thematically through the actions, conversations, and deaths of these characters. Charlie Plummer’s Gary is such a layered look at masculinity, toxicity, and the loneliness and consequences of such an individual. The film is also so uncomfortable in the way it accurately captures authoritarianism and control in modern America. Even though this story is decades old, it feels so relevant in America today. The character of The Major is a representation of the aggressive toxicity of masculinity and what it can do to destroy people. Unfortunately, The Long Walk does not feel too far off in the toxic landscape of America today. The way revolution is represented in this film through its young protagonists is poignant, layered, and compelling. The final sequence of this film has plenty of shocking moments that come together to deliver a haunting, emotional, and satisfying conclusion to this harrowing cinematic journey. 

What element of the film ties it all together? This impressive ensemble of young performers ties it all together. Starting at the center, Cooper Hoffman feels so genuine as a good young man who has a chip on his shoulder and plenty of pent-up rage. His reactions to the deaths of his fellow walkers make their loss infinitely more impactful. The naturalistic chemistry he has with the whole crew delivers as the anchoring force in the film. Hoffman has the same authenticity in his work as his father. The other half of this film’s dynamic duo comes from David Jonsson. The swagger and confidence that Jonsson injects into Peter is quite impressive and makes him such an engrossing character. But the vulnerability that Jonsson has underneath the surface makes Peter such a worthy leading character for the audience to connect with and root for. Plummer delivers a manic, complex, and moving performance that has so many layers to it that his character becomes one of the most interesting in the whole film. Ben Wang delivers plenty of great humor and grit to the film as a true underdog in this race. The moving turn of Tut Nyuot might be one of the most impressive turns of the whole cast. There are plenty of other strong performances from this young cast which give The Long Walk one of the strongest young ensembles you just might ever see in film history. Judy Greer is so empathetic and endearing as Raymond’s mother to the point she will almost certainly emotionally devastate you with her performance. Then there is Mark Hamill. He chews up every scene like the most delectable treat imaginable. His gravelly and gruff voice and demeanor make The Major memorable and haunting. You want to hate him…and Hamill loves every moment of it. 

Does the world of cinema have something truly special on their hands with The Long Walk? No joke…this is one of the greatest adaptations of King’s work and truly one of the best films of 2025. The sheer amount of emotional devastation would do it, but Lawrence delivers so much more than that. Unrelenting. Brutal. Moving. Inspiring. Layer. Complex. Significant. Relevant. Relatable. All the above. The ensemble is shockingly good and just might have the future of film in its grasp. Walk (don’t run) to your theater and take in the haunting and harrowing experience of the year.