This vividly realized Stephen King adaptation brings so much horror and pathos and reminds me why I love King’s writing. 

Based on the first novel King ever wrote, although it wasn’t the first he published, the film, is set in a dystopian version of the United States in which a totalitarian government holds an annual event called the long walk. In order to alleviate the deep economic depression the country is in, the long walk is meant to inspire patriotism and work ethic in the population by watching fifty boys and young men walk non stop until only one remains alive. 

The film focuses in on one such boy named Ray Garraty, played by a wonderful Cooper Hoffman, he is a young man with a grudge against the system. In spite of the circumstances, he forms a bond of friendship with Pete McVries, played by a stellar David Jonsson, Art Baker, played by Tut Not, and Hank Olson, played by Ben Wang. 

At this point the rules are laid out. The boys must walk until they cannot. They must maintain a speed of 3 miles per hour. If they fall below that speed they are given three warnings before being executed by the military convoy that follows them. They must walk non stop. No breaks for sleep, none for eating or drinking, and no bathroom breaks. 

At this point the film doesn’t seem as horrific as it will become. It’s a group of optimistic boys who have volunteered to walk in order to win the grand prize which involves a life changing amount of money, and one wish of their choosing, any desire fulfilled on the spot. 

The boys butt heads and show off their bravado. They each are fully confident that their victory is assured. They each have big plans for the money and their wishes. Our four main boys develop a wonderful supportive friendship. 

This section of the film was wonderful. Ray and Pete share ideas about the systems in place and how unfair the long walk is, but how they want to do some good if they win. 

When Hank develops a cramp the boys all agree to alter their pace to help give Hank some relief. When a boy begins to slow down Ray helps him keep pace and they all encourage him to keep moving. When one boy drops his food, Ray gives him his own supply because there’s not stopping on the long walk. 

It’s around this point that the film, shows us the true horror that we’re about to endure. The first boy falls below pace. He can’t keep up. In his desperation he begins weeping and crying out. His panicked screams of desperation are awful and haunting. The boys cheering him one trying to get him back on pace is heartbreaking as a the soldiers shout out their three warnings to the pathetic boys on the road. Then the shot rings out, and the bloodied boy collapses in a ruined heap. 

Several elements make this horrifying. The bravado of the boy we saw earlier is torn down and exposed as a sham when he’s faced with death, and we are forced to see that he is really just a child. The desperation of the other walkers to try to keep him going is also horrifying. They are trying so hard to help in the face of utter futility. It doesn’t matter what they do, they are helpless in the face of this system they are in. The inhumanity of the soldiers is the final and most chilling element. The boy obviously cannot keep going, yet they continue to call out his warnings as though he could get up and keep going. It is a cold and mechanical violence that they enact on him. That faceless brutality is terrifying. 

The first death is shaken off by the boys, but as the warnings are given and shots ring out, it gets harder to shake it off. There is deeply poignant line about how those deaths will begin to feel normal and how scary that is. 

When we hit the first night, I was so worried about how they would manage to keep walking. As they sleepily stumble through the dark road, they reach a massive hill. I never thought a hill could be scary, but this hill is terrifying. Everyone of them struggles to maintain their pace while climbing the hill. The warnings and gun shots start flying fast and furious. 

It’s at the point that the horror of the film becomes all encompassing. It’s not a horror movie where ghosts and slashers attack teens. It’s the horror of war. This insight actually comes from a conversation with a friend who said that this is an examination on the horror and futility of war. That these boys are sent off as a symbol of a country’s greatness, and they are gunned down needlessly and ignominiously. They form bonds with each other and then have to watch their friends and brothers drop dead one after another. 

I have never seen a better condemnation war. There is a big discussion amongst film critics as to whether there can truly be an anti-war film. Since film by its very nature glorifies and makes everything it depicts look pretty cool, how can it fully condemn war? Saving Private Ryan is one of the most horrific depictions of war ever put to film, yet it inspired not an anti-war movement, but a video game series (Call of Duty) in which guys get to relive the coolest battles from the comfort of their couches. This film condemns the horrors and inhumanity of war by not showing battles and explosions, but showing us the traumatizing inhumanity that war creates for the young people of the world. 

It is an excellent film. When I saw the trailers, I was deeply skeptical. I thought how deep or interesting could this movie be? It’s just a bunch of guys walking in a straight line. I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The story is dynamic and heartfelt. The cinematography is excellent. The characters are so richly drawn and so human. And the characters are what made me love this movie. 

Stephen King cares deeply for his characters. Even the bastards have humanity to them. Even the bullies and the monsters have some humanity in them. King weaves great character work, a thematically resonant story, and a terrifying premise together beautifully. Francis Lawrence the director does a great job of telling King’s story and JT Mollner nails his adaptation of the screenplay. 

I had one problem with the film, but I won’t dive too deeply into it here. It involves the ending, and I don’t want to spoil it. I think the movie is 90% great, and 10% less than great. I’d still highly recommend it.

This was my cup of tea. A-