I wasn’t ready. I thought I was walking into another decent Stephen King adaptation — tense, maybe a little eerie, nothing too out of the ordinary. What I didn’t expect was to walk out of the theatre in complete silence, gutted in the best way possible, writes Mashaal Hussain.
I recently saw The Long Walk in theatres, and while I had no real expectations going in, it ended up being one of my favourite films of the year. It’s rare that something leaves such a deep mark, but this one did — and fast. When the title card finally dropped a full 20 minutes into the movie, I knew I was in for something special.
In a dystopian version of mid-20th century America ruled by a totalitarian regime, fifty teenage boys are selected for an annual state-sponsored contest known as The Long Walk. The rules are brutal: walk without rest at a minimum pace of 3 miles per hour. Fall below that speed or stop? You’re warned. Accumulate three warnings? You’re executed on the spot. The last boy walking wins a cash prize — and a single wish, anything he desires.
Everyone in this film brought their absolute best — but David Jonsson? A star. I knew from Industry that he had something special, but this role solidified it. His performance was emotionally layered and completely arresting. Every expression, every breakdown, every word — it all hit. He deserves every bit of praise he’s getting.
Cooper Hoffman delivered one of the most grounded, compelling lead performances I’ve seen in a while. It’s rare to have a protagonist who feels genuinely human and not just a symbol. He played Ray with such nuance that you couldn’t help but empathise with him — even when his choices broke your heart.
I was also really impressed by Ben Wang — his presence was magnetic, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the upcoming Hunger Games prequel. Tut Nyout as Arthur Baker was another pleasant surprise, his performance held real weight and sensitivity.
What caught me completely off guard was how emotionally invested I became in the brotherhood at the heart of the film. I was on the edge of my seat, rooting for them to survive — to hold on to their humanity in a system that wanted to strip it away. And somehow, amid all the intensity, the film never lost its emotional core.
The Long Walk is a masterclass in tension, character building, and quiet devastation. It’s not just about surviving — it’s about what it means to hold onto your identity, your friendships, and your values in the face of something utterly inhumane.
If you haven’t seen it yet — go in blind. Don’t read too much, don’t spoil it for yourself. Let it hit you the way it’s meant to. The silence in the cinema after the credits rolled? That told me everything I needed to know. This film will stay with me for a long, long time.
(The writer has seen it twice since writing this, she is still emotionally recovering.)
SPOILERS..
The story centers on Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), who volunteers for the Walk for reasons that unfold slowly throughout the film. Along the grueling journey, he forms fragile, deeply human connections with other walkers — most notably Peter McVries (David Jonsson), a fellow contestant whose inner torment and resilience become central to the emotional arc of the film. Others like Ben Wang, Tut Nyout (Arthur Baker), and Collie Parker round out a cast of boys navigating friendship, fear, and futility as they walk hundreds of miles, each step bringing them closer to death.
As the numbers dwindle and the psychological toll deepens, we arrive at a gut-wrenching finale: only Ray and Peter remain. In a quiet but devastating act, Ray stops walking, sacrificing himself so Peter can win. When asked what his wish is, Peter doesn’t ask what his initial wish was — he picks up a gun and kills the sadistic Major who orchestrated the Walk.
Ray, the quiet optimist, ends up sacrificing himself — becoming the martyr. And in a haunting reversal, Peter, once the moral compass of their bond, picks up the gun and fulfills the violent wish Ray once confessed — the very act Peter had warned him against. By the end, they’ve completely switched roles.
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