The Long Walk - A Review
“Just go on dancing with me like this forever, Garraty. And I'll never tire. We'll scrape our shoe on the stars and hang upside down from the moon.”
“They walked through the rainy dark like gaunt ghosts, and Garraty didn't like to look at them. They were the walking dead.”
“Any game looks straight if everyone is being cheated at once.”
THE LONG WALK (1979) – Stephen King
The Long Walk has always been my favorite Stephen King standalone novel. Which is ironic since it was released under the Richard Bachman pseudonym, and actually the very first book King wrote in the late 60’s, several years before Carrie (1974) was published. It’s a work that I initially read in a single sitting, and have since revisited on more than one occasion over the decades.
There’s something so potent, vital, and gritty with those early Bachman books, packed with relevant social commentary, believable characters, and situations. They were a little nastier, leaner, and meaner, usually through the viewpoint of an “every man” living in America’s dystopian future.
Most all of Bachman’s books share in the lineage and DNA of other classics such as Lord of the Flies, 1984, and The Lottery, which are all considered highly important works of 20th century fiction.
So it should come as no surprise that I previously covered the works of Richard Bachman for Horror to Culture HERE, and have long been anticipating a film adaptation of the book, that had once been considered “unadaptable”.
Rumors of an adaptation began in the mid 2000’s, and horror master George A. Romero was once even attached to the project all the way back in 1988. The rights have since moved directors and film companies several times over the past three decades before ending up at Lionsgate, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games).
In trying to capture my initial feelings upon seeing The Long Walk opening weekend, knowing it would have to be condensed into a much shorter format, my first reaction is to give props to all of the performances, particularly David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman.
While there is no way to depict all of the nuances, the characters present here all stand out, while also allowing for creative liberties. Hopefully David Jonsson has a long career ahead of him, as his dialog and presence carries most of the film. Likewise, Cooper Hoffman is the son of the legendary actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Every shot rings out here in stark brutality, as one by one the kids all succumb to the intense rigors of the contest, until only one will remain the “winner”. I was worried how the ending would play out, as the final few pages are more psychological than anything else, but the film adaptation does a clever job of subverting expectations, while offering a new outcome.
That being said, the end of the film is its weakest link, though is perhaps even darker than the original finale. Yet, despite the vileness presented here, The Long Walk is still an exercise (no pun intended) in humanity, compassion, and friendship.
Not unlike this year’s previous King adaptation, The Life of Chuck, the film is about living in the moment, and attempting to find some perspective while the world around us is falling apart.
The Long Walk is not a perfect adaptation, however it is an effective one, which stays as true to the source material as is possible within a 1 ½ hour run time. While the ending leaves a little to be desired, it still ranks as one of the better King adaptations, and one that has relevant social commentary which, unfortunately, hits a little too close to home in the current climate of the United States and the direction we are headed as a country.
Up next another Bachman book, The Running Man, is getting its 2nd film adaptation, directed by Edgar Wright, set to release in November.
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Michael A. Dyer is the host of the HORROR TO CULTURE podcast, vidcast, and website.
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