Mini Film Review – The Long Walk

Yesterday I watched The Long Walk; and it was pretty good! Directed by Francis Lawrence, and starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Mark Hamill, and based on the book of the same name by Stephen King; The Long Walk is a dystopian survival thriller, where 50 boys take part in an annual competitive walking contest, but with a catch: if they stop moving for too long, they die! The Long Walk is a really interesting piece of drama. Although it’s set in a dystopian period, with thriller and survival like elements, quite a lot of it’s more endearing qualities, come from the friendships formed between several of the walkers, and the comradery they share, even when things get tougher and tougher. Sort of like Battle Royale in a sense, as whilst on the outside it may look like a killing fest, there’s actually a real element of heart to it. The comradery exhibited between the two main leads is brilliant, as one spurrs on the other to keep going, each supporting one another, and their friends too, in a deeply inspirational fashion. Which all leads to a predictable, but eventually satisfying conclusion. The only thing really missing that I would like to have seen, is further details on the founding of The Long Walk, and the events which led up to it’s creation. But whilst that information is lacking, it does not spoil a deeply interesting film!