Another day, another Stephen King adaptation, and The Long Walk sees fifty young men (supposedly older teens), one from each US state, competing in the titular brutal contest in an impoverished dystopian near/alt-future, with the simple premise that the competitors keep walking, having to keep up with the pace or be shot mercilessly, last one standing winning a fortune. Originally reflecting young soldiers being sent to the Vietnam War, it is reframed unforgivingly here to reflect the current social, economic and political climate. Starting off seemingly light with the competitors getting to know each other through easy banter on the first few miles (reminiscent of Stand By Me), but it does not take long before the first brutally visceral shock execution of the first participant to fall occurs. As an effective metaphor for how economic stresses can drive people to extreme measures and a commentary on reality TV (like a stripped-back Hunger Games), the film's lean and simple concept and unwavering focus keeps it morbidly engaging throughout, especially as the weather, exhaustion, injuries and even bodily functions take their toll on the ever-diminishing group. With a strong and invested cast, Brit David Jonsson is a clear standout from the start. As the film progresses and even the core cast members start to be picked off, this excellent but grim and distressing watch leads to an inevitable final head-to-head and a conclusion that the viewer knows is coming and does not want to see.
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