“The Long Walk” takes viewers on an emotional journey
“The Long Walk,” a movie based on Stephen King’s short story, took me through a long, emotional ride in theaters. This movie takes place in a dystopian world where 50 boys, one from each of the 50 states, walk until there is one winner. If contestants stop walking, they will be eliminated from the contest and killed. The winner gains money and is granted one wish. I anticipated that the film would do poorly in the theaters because a film about a walking contest seems quite boring, but it exceeded my expectations.
The main character, Ray Garraty, played by Cooper Hoffman, has an unseen motive to win the Long Walk. The viewer is unaware of Garraty’s motivation at first, making his storyline an enticing watch. His character development is impactful, and since he is a teenager in high school, it makes him feel more emotionally relatable.
The Major is played by Mark Hamill, who did an impeccable job playing his role. He is the man in charge of this dystopian world, as he runs the contest and controls the country. When he spoke, I knew that he was the most important person within this dystopian world, simply from the tone in his voice.
Garraty saw his mother on the walk. He immediately apologized to his mom for participating in the competition, and he almost stepped off the pavement, which would get him eliminated from the game. This moment in the film elicited compassion in me. Garraty had regret and sorrow for participating in this competition.
Peter McVries, who is played by David Jonsson, befriended Garraty. While many of the characters in the movie found this challenge to be a competition, McVries and Garraty felt motivated to help each other throughout the journey. The progressive take on the relationship between a black man, McVries, and a white man, Garraty, in the 1970s displayed how trauma-bonding friendships can defy societal standards of that time and bring people together in times of desperation. The acting made me feel a part of their friend group through their wholesome stories and deep emotional talks.
The soundtrack of this movie made it eerie with the sounds of the loud gunshots. When I walked into the theater, I felt an uncertain feeling, not knowing what to expect, and then later became distraught over the plot. The lighting in the “Long Walk” was well done, with the fog and the yellow lights symbolizing the end of the contest and the end of a true friendship. The color grading of this movie was better than other movies I have ever seen. It made me feel a part of the story, getting attached to the characters, then being separated with the dark wide-angle camera shots throughout the whole movie.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for an emotional rollercoaster.
