Solid lead performances, dystopian aesthetic doesn’t redeem underbaked ‘The Long Walk’
Strong lead performances by Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson and Ben Wang are not enough to offset the blandness of "The Long Walk," our columnist says. Though labeled as horror, the Stephen King adaptation doesn't provide much fright. Maria Masek | Contributing Illustrator
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It’s always a bad sign when the most memorable aspect of a movie wasn’t even on the screen. A viral video of a private showing of “The Long Walk” reveals viewers walking on a treadmill, keeping a 3 mph pace (like the characters on screen) or else getting kicked out of the showing. Maybe taking a walk in the characters’ shoes enhances the story.
But for me, while a walk outside can be a refreshing chance to discover hidden gems, bask in sunlight and appreciate the scenery, “The Long Walk” was far from that. In fact, the film mirrored the treadmill routine — repetitive and predictable.
No stranger to dystopian stories (the most recent four “The Hunger Games” and “I Am Legend”), director Francis Lawrence’s newest film, “The Long Walk,” adapts Stephen King’s 1979 novel of the same name. Outside of a few solid lead performances, the project doesn’t have many redeeming qualities, lacking intensity and excitement in a film that should be brimming with it.
War has devastated a dystopian United States and led to a totalitarian government, which holds the annual Long Walk. Most teenage boys and young men apply to compete in the event, where 50 walkers (chosen randomly and representing each state) must keep a speed of 3 mph for as long as possible.
If a contestant falls below pace, they get a warning. After three warnings, the contestant is executed by a soldier. The goal is to be the last one standing, which is rewarded with wealth and one wish from the government.
The plot is straightforward, but for “The Long Walk,” less is not more. Each scene consists of three things: walking, minor character revelations and funny one-liners.
Inherently, “The Long Walk” was going to be repetitive, but its formulaic approach is painfully dull.
Cooper Hoffman — son of the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman — displays a respectable performance as the lead character, Raymond “Ray” Garraty. Hoffman did his best, but the uninspired plot holds him back.
David Jonsson, who plays Peter McVries, is in the same boat. Peter and Ray become close friends during the Walk, helping one another along the way. Jonsson delivers a nuanced performance, channeling Peter’s wit, kindness and turmoil.
Throughout the film, details about the characters are revealed in bite-size pieces. Eventually, we find out The Major (Mark Hamill), who oversees the competition, killed Ray’s father. If Ray wins, he’ll wish for a soldier’s rifle to assassinate The Major.
There’s enough character development to keep audiences engaged. But when the credits rolled, I still felt distant from the characters, even though they were fighting for their survival.
While Hoffman and Jonsson were commendable, veteran actor Hamill simply went through the motions. It felt like he was impersonating a powerful military leader, not acting as one.
He put on a tough, authoritarian voice that was wildly inauthentic. Hamill switched between a vaguely Jack Black-sounding impression and a half-hearted, less theatrical version of his Joker. Toward the end of the film, Ray tells The Major to shut up — something I wanted to do the entire time.
Despite being labeled as horror, “The Long Walk” has minimal frights and the stakes rarely feel high. I felt more tension watching the trailer than the film itself.
Ben Wang’s performance as Hank Olson — the class clown of the group — stuck out to me the most. Hank’s comedic relief is reliable and super enjoyable, but it does a subpar job offsetting serious elements. Although, Wang isn’t to blame — there just isn’t much horror to balance out.
The film’s potentially powerful messages of governmental control, greed, friendship and survival are present, but washed out due to the lack of intensity. And while the dangers of a dystopian society are inherently part of the story, they didn’t strike much fear in me.
Ray’s relationship with his mother (Judy Greer) and the camaraderie between Ray, Peter, Hank and Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot) are some of the few bright spots in “The Long Walk.” However, watching a King story where friendship blossoms between four guys just made me want to rewatch “Stand by Me.”
Receiving an 89% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, “The Long Walk” ranks high among King adaptations. It earned the same score as “The Shawshank Redemption” and surpassed “The Shining,” which are now considered two of the greatest films ever made. While both have had time to gain recognition, the quick praise of “The Long Walk” could hint at issues of Rotten Tomatoes inflation.
Although the film’s ending is different from the novel, I was able to sniff it out midway through the movie. The finale mirrors the key issues with “The Long Walk.” It’s predictable and anticlimactic.
