Set in a dystopian 1970s, Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk explores the extremes of endurance. The film follows Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter McVries (David Jonsson) as they compete in an excruciating contest, where each step tests not only their strengths and perseverance but also the bonds of friendship. 

Power of Friendship 

Based on The Long Walk by Stephen King, The Long Walk film is a gripping performance that entails a high-stakes contest where 50 young men must trek at a particular pace or be killed. In simpler terms, it boils down to “walk or die,” but the narrative makes the film feel more than what meets the eye. Set in a dystopian world, The Long Walk is tension-packed, with each step further, the pressure heightens, bonds become stronger, and each contestant wonders if they’ll make it until the end. What makes the film even more horrific is that the contest has no finish line; one has to walk until they’re the only survivor. Although most of the characters delivered a superb performance, David Jonsson as David McVries and Cooper Hoffman as Ray Garraty were exceptional in their roles. Their friendship in The Long Walk is the source of strength that sustained them to the end, which could’ve played out better than it did.

Garraty needs emotional comfort to get through, while McVries, who’s both strong on the outside and the inside, helps his friend get it together, not just emotionally and mentally but physically. The emotional spine of the film stems from the friendship between Garraty and McVries, which made some jealous but attracted a few who feel otherwise. Garraty might seem weak emotionally, but a different force is behind his reason for participating in the competition. While everyone else came for the prize money and some to have a wish of “10 naked girls” granted, Garraty didn’t come for the money—he came for vengeance, which at the end he couldn’t fulfill. In sum, The Long Walk succeeds as much more than a survival thriller due to its weighty rumination on endurance, genuine friendship, and the limits of hope. It doesn’t distract with spectacle; instead, it compels viewers to walk alongside the characters and realize that the longest journey is internal. Depending on the lens one sees through, The Long Walk bears a resemblance to humans’ journey in life; with friends, life feels good, the stress is subdued by laughter, death is less thought about, and shared moments serve as a fountain of encouragement. It also depicts how everyone’s journey is personal.

A Deeper Look

Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Long Walk was written by JT Mollner and produced by Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, and Cameron MacConomy. One thing the film does not lack is well-performing actors. The Long Walk features a bright cast, even though most are not well known, they brought decent performance to their role. As far as performances go, Jonsson’s McVries is the driving force of The Long Walk’s narrative. His performance is calm yet commanding and enthusiastic enough to keep viewers completely immersed. As Peter McVries, his role serves as the film’s moral compass and an emotional balance to Garraty’s impulsive drive. His humility and restraint reflect the film’s slow unraveling of humanity. He doesn’t play as a hero or a victim but rather as someone caught between dignity and despair, and this is proven by his conversations with Garraty–especially when he advises Garraty on his path of vengeance and the consequences that come after. One moment that shows the film’s message of humility and maturity is the sequence where Garraty initiates an argument with him when McVries is only trying to help. After receiving his final warning before lashing out at McVries, Garraty is increasingly tense with no expectation of help from anyone. But in this difficult moment, McVries comes to help him. This is one of the film’s most impactful moments, as it depicts what true friendship should look like.

Hoffman, on the other hand, delivers one of his most grounded performances yet in The Long Walk. He does well to portray Ray Garraty, balancing sarcasm, defiance, and a quiet fear that feels painfully human. What’s even more remarkable about Hoffman is how he embodies Garraty’s internal conflict; the will to survive clashing with the grief of watching others fall.