The Long Walk Review: The Bleakest Stephen King Movie Since The Mist Is An Unforgettable Experience

Tut Nyuot as Baker, Ben Wang as Olson, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch, Joshua Odjick as Parker, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, David Jonsson as McVries in The Long Walk.

Per Frank Darabont’s commentary track for The Mist, Stephen King had instant appreciation for the now-infamous ending of the 2007 film – which is notably way more extreme than what is featured in the King novella on which it’s based. In an email, the legendary author wrote to Darabont, “Every generation needs a movie like Night of the Living Dead where nothing turns out well for anybody at the end.” Happy conclusions are a dime a dozen on the big screen, hence the coinage of the phrase “Hollywood ending.” But whether we like it or not, bleakness is a part of life, and there is a certain responsibility for art to reflect that hard reality.

The Long Walk

(Image credit: Lionsgate)

Release Date: September 12, 2025
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Written By: JT Moller
Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references
Runtime: 108 minutes