Violence begets violence is the big takeaway from The Long Walk, a film adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name by director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter JT Moliner. The Long Walk is the very first novel he wrote as a professional writer, but it would not be published until later, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. In the story, King depicts a dystopian society where America, under a totalitarian regime, hosts an annual event where a select group of young men are forced to walk a ridiculous number of miles and must maintain a certain speed until they fail and are executed by the military on the spot. The one who outlasts the others wins and is promised anything that they wish. As bleak as this story is, King includes two main characters who have maintained some humanity within their souls and attempt to lift and encourage their rivals to persevere no matter what. Our empathy, which makes us most human, is the characteristic that keeps us falling into chaos, and now, more than ever, is essential to the survival of our species.
Cooper Hoffman stars as Raymond Garrity, a mostly good-hearted young man who sees the “walk” as a means to helping out his family through the story’s turbulent times. Or at least, that is the story he tells his mother after agreeing to participate in this insane competition. Determined to win, Raymond initially sees no harm in connecting with his competition and assisting when he can. In doing so, he connects with Peter McVries (David Jonsson), a seemingly amiable gentleman who shares the same attitude about the contest.
The two encounter a variety of personalities, some of whom are less friendly and more opportunistic. This element gives Garrity and McVries a different challenge to their more positive attitudes. As the journey continues, and several of their competitors begin to fall, McVries eventually learns that Garrity has a more personal agenda at stake.
The story of this movie and novel is mostly pitch black, but the characters of Garrity and McVries provide some semblance of light and hope. King’s, Moliner’s, and Lawrence’s message is that people must maintain their humanity, empathy, and capability to love and care to fight the cold, horrific alternative. As one navigates through this journey with the characters, this proves to be the biggest challenge that humanity faces daily. Though I have never read the novel, Lawrence and Moliner have a firm and passionate grasp on the message King hopes to convey with his story.
The filmmakers and actors of the film do exceptional work in bringing this relevant story to life. The direction, cinematography, editing, acting, and the use of shocking violence all come together tremendously. As much as King wanted to inject some heart into this film, the story is not at all feel-good material. The violence and atrocities that occur are shocking and jarring. The audience genuinely feels the challenges and struggles endured by these characters. The writing, direction, and acting are so outstanding that one actually feels like they are witnessing this horror in person.
The entire cast blew me away, but the true standouts are Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. They embody and emulate true humanity through their performances. Though they are not perfect characters, they exemplify in many ways what humanity should strive to be. They are pushed up against a wall, and their hearts are challenged every step of the way. And that is what makes this movie’s story so heartbreaking.
Of course, these good-hearted characters need a counter, an indelible force that craves to destroy them and mold them in his ways, and that character is The Major, portrayed exceptionally by Mark Hamill. The Major is the head officer of this operation, and is so cold, calculating, and hateful that most audiences will desire this character’s demise. He represents everything wrong with people who lack empathy and are on the opposite side of humanity. Hamill is phenomenal in this role. Throughout the entire movie, I did not realize it was Mark Hamill. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I could have sworn I was watching actor Michael Ironside the whole time.
Now, even though this movie is not light, mindless entertainment, and a complicated watch, it serves as a genuine commentary on the state of the human species, particularly in America. I highly recommend that people watch this incredible film. In light of recent events in the U.S., I understand why people might be hesitant to watch this film. However, it is essential viewing, as it reminds us of the importance of our hearts and empathy for everyone on this planet, regardless of their backgrounds, ideologies, or flaws.