The Long Walk

I must say, it’s been a few hours since I’ve watched the film and it’s still sat deep in my mind. It’s an incredibly emotional and politically relevant film that should not be viewed when you aren’t in the mood for something heavy.

For starters, I have to praise our performers. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are the heart and soul of this film and they give the performances that prove they are the lifeblood of our industry going forward. For people that just met, under these circumstances, the way they slowly grow together and build a rapport is absolutely masterful. David especially shines in this film, being the relentless optimist in such a dull and crushing environment, he brings a layer of both levity and realism to the stakes of the film. You can’t help but root for both of them, but unfortunately, the film establishes that only one of them can make it out. Even though they don’t have a lot of screentime, both Mark Hamill and Judy Greer are on excellent form in the limited scenes they have. Mark acting as the “Big Brother” watching over them, this ever present threat just presiding over them. He’s so detestable in every line he delivers. Judy, on the other hand, provides an emotional hook for both the characters and the audience to attach to. She has a particularly harrowing scene towards the start of the film that just absolutely floored me. The way she’s able to go from panic to pure despair to calm love is nothing short of amazing. Her character is a primary catalyst for why the ending works as well as it does. 

SPOILER WARNING

The ending is so impactful because it uses your own expectations against you. Going into the last 10 minutes, I was fully expecting Pete (David’s character) to sacrifice himself for the protagonist that we’ve been following so he could get his wish. But the film presents that in such a way that you feel rewarded for thinking that, and then drags the rug out from under you with extreme force. The sudden gunshot combined with Pete’s screams as Ray is shot really hits you in the bottom of your gut. I genuinely couldn’t get over how effective the subversion is. It is so simple but done in such an interesting and intense way that you almost feel betrayed when it happens.

Furthermore, this links into the thematic nature of the film. The film has one straight throughline. In my opinion, it is a commentary on society and its manipulation of people. The whole story revolves around a group of people who are competing with each other to win a promise of riches. The society that they grew up in functions in a way that rewards perseverance for the promise of something good, and it’ll throw out anyone who doesn’t live up to their standards. By killing what we assume is the main character at the end, without any resolution for his goals, was an insanely brilliant move. Really hammering in the concept that no matter how hard you work, how much you do, you likely won’t be rewarded. As soon as you outlast your usefulness, society will be ruthless and abandon you. It’s such a harrowing truth that not many people will recognise in their lifetime, but this film aims to change that. The film feels like it wants to reflect the state of our society at the minute, with the rise in unemployment and the almost authoritarian rule that a lot of countries (America specifically) seem to be facing. I felt this was handled with a lot of care and class. It doesn’t treat you like a child, it doesn’t hold your hand as it presents these ideas and themes and it trusts you to make these connections.

Francis Lawrence directs this with focus and clarity, the Hunger Games director shakes off his family friendly history to create something truly dark and harrowing. He brings out the best in the cast, creating enemies and friends alike, allowing them to grow together in effective ways whilst also never losing focus of the wider narrative and implications of the world around them. A lot of wide shots or dolly zooms showing the world as they pass it by, showing how numb everyone is to this arguably heinous activity.

He is supported by the cinematographer Jo Willems, who creates really powerful images and shots that enhance the thematic and tonal resosnance of the story. The scenes at night are particularly brilliant, sticking to close ups and isolating them in the frame, keeping our lead characters alone to have deeply personal moments to bond. The final shot of the film is particularly powerful because the significance of it really carries the tone to its natural conclusion. Having Pete alone, walking on into the rainy night down a long road, setting him back on the path he just escaped… Oh my word, it’s still stuck with me now, many hours later.

I don’t have many issues with the film, if any. If I had to highlight something it’s that I wish certain characters had more time to shine. For being the main antagonist figure of the film, we don’t really know anything about the Major and I would have loved to have seen more Mark Hamill in this role..

I would highly recommend you go and watch this film, not only for the fact that it’s an incredibly well put-together film but also because of how politically relevant it is. With the fragile state of politics and society at the moment, this film provides a window into the direction we might go if we continue down this path of consistent hatred, bigotry, and rivalry. The Long Walk is nothing short of amazing and is well worth your time.

9/10