Alexandria, VA – Long before The Hunger Games, set in an ultra-conservative police state governing a future America, 50 teenage boys are selected via a volunteer lottery for a contest where they walk a grueling, inhumane marathon in The Long Walk. Giddy with the bravado and hubris of young men, each contestant is propelled by the promise of fame, fortune, and a single wish fulfilled for the winner. Marathoners must maintain a constant 3-mph pace and stay on the road or face death.
The screenplay, based upon Stephen King’s 1979 novel under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was adapted by director/producer/writer JT Molner. Molner made changes from King’s novel that don’t detract from the storyline but actually enhance its power, extolling themes of sacrifice and fellowship.
DIRECTING DÉJÀ-DYSTOPIA ALL OVER AGAIN
The Long Walk was filmed last summer in Winnipeg, Canada, by Francis Lawrence who directed and produced, along with Hunger Games veteran (and native Alexandrian) Cameron MacConomy, as well as Roy Lee and Steven Schneider.
A skilled veteran of the dystopian metaverse (I Am Legend, Constantine, and five features of The Hunger Games), Lawrence delivers a Stephen King adaptation worthy of a cinematic experience along the lines of Carrie, The Shining, Misery, The Green Mile, and Stand By Me. Die-hard King fanatics won’t be disappointed by his latest thriller, dropping September 12.
Lawrence shot the film chronologically, something he had never undertaken. The effect amplifies the vicarious experience as both the crew and viewer follow the contestants step by step, mile by excruciating mile. The effect is complemented by Jeremiah Fraites of the alternative folk band The Lumineers who delivers a memorably evocative sound in his first time composing for a major motion picture.
WALKING THE LONG WALK IN THEIR SHOES
It’s estimated that the cast and crew walked and revisited walks for each scene totalling about 350 miles. The transition from the bravado of the boys peacocking early on for the televised audience and each other to the languished drudgery of those dispirited denizens of the ever-dwindling survivors is palpable.
The sideline filming tracking the trek reveals tableaus of everyday life passing by, indifferent witnesses to the marathoners’ plight. An incurious dog, a still field of golden sunflowers, townie spectators picnicking roadside (only locals may view the parade), a dead blackbird prophetically caught in a fence. The haze from the Canadian wildfires’ smoke imbued an evocative palette of graying despair and imminent doom, pervading the sky as far as the imperiled walkers can see.
CASTING LUKE SKYWALKER IN A HORROR FILM
Lawrence saw Star Wars at the tender age of seven. The prospect of casting a childhood hero in the adaptation of his favorite Stephen King book was almost as daunting as depicting the brutality of the storyline.
As The Major, Lawrence envisioned the more seasoned Mark Hamill, i.e., the Skywalker seen in the J.J. Abrams Star Wars sequels rather than George Lucas’s original Episodes IV-VI. Hamill grew up as a military brat. His father was a captain in the Navy so he knew the drill. Hamill’s Selleck-mustachioed performance is deftly understated and spot-on. Nary a Wookie or an Ewok come to mind.
SUPERB NEPO STAR AND SOLID SUPPORTING CAST
Cooper Hoffman, the son of the late, highly-acclaimed actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, delivers a compelling performance with a pathos that’s emblematic of “like father, like son” kudos. He possesses the acting chops to embody true grit and gravitas portraying Raymond Garraty #47 as he devolves from his first step until the final footfall.
Co-star David Jonsson as Peter McVries #23 (Alien Romulus, Industry, Deep State) supports the storyline and Ray’s own resolve. Complementing the stellar leads are Ben Wang as Hank Olson #46, currently cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo of Jojo Rabbit, as Curley #7. Character actress Judy Greer plays Ray’s anguished mom with her usual aplomb.
THE EVERLASTING POWER OF THE LONG WALK
With all great stories, redemption is key. As Mark Hamill told the audience at the San Diego Comic-Con, “The premise is horrific and off-putting. But the heart and soul is the story of these young guys and what they experience during the long walk.”
Co-star Garrett Wareing as Stebbins #38 concurred. Preparing the Comic-Con audience for the emotional toll, he noted that it gets him in the gut every time. “That feeling doesn’t leave you.” It won’t. The Long Walk gives us a lot to contemplate. Ray and The Musketeers will haunt you, heart and soul.
