Cliff Notes – Stephen King’s ‘unrelentingly bleak and utterly brutal’ new horror movie is here
- Critical Acclaim: The Long Walk has received a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its powerful storytelling and emotional depth.
- Plot Overview: The film follows 100 teenage boys in a deadly walking contest, exploring themes of physical and psychological endurance.
- Director and Cast: Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film features a notable cast including Mark Hamill and Judy Greer, marking a significant adaptation of King’s 1979 novel.
Stephen King’s ‘unrelentingly bleak and utterly brutal’ new horror movie is here
A horror movie based on a Stephen King adaptation has finally been released in cinemas, after earning rave reviews from critics and a huge Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Long Walk, starring Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez and Garrett Wareing, is based on the legendary author’s 1979 novel of the same name.
It follows 100 teenage boys who are forced to participate in a grueling walking contest where falling below a set pace means death.
As the relentless journey unfolds, the competitors face both physical torment and psychological collapse as they battle to survive.
The eerie flick, directed by Francis Lawrence, already boasts a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 95%, with many declaring it ‘one of the best films of the year’.
It’s Better in the Dark’s Anthony Morris penned: ‘Powerful, gut-wrenching and relentless, The Long Walk is a straightforward idea taken to a brutally logical conclusion. This walk will stay with you long after the end credits.’
The Long Walk is out in cinemas now (Picture: Lionsgate)
Mark Hamill leads the cast as the Major (Picture: Lionsgate)
Leo Brady of AMovieGuy.com agreed: ‘The Long Walk is a bleak and haunting film, heartbreaking and, at times, strangely inspiring.’
Nikki Baughan from Screen International penned: ‘Unrelentingly bleak and utterly brutal, it’s one of the most powerful King features for some time.’
‘Bleak, unflinching, and unexpectedly moving, The Long Walk is both a faithful King adaptation and one of the most harrowing cinematic experiences in years,’ Linda Marric of HeyUGuys posted.
‘Not for the faint of heart – but easily one of the best films of 2025 so far.’
The flick has received a huge Rotten Tomatoes score (Picture: Lionsgate)
Collider’s Jeff Ewing commented: ‘The Long Walk’s steadfast focus on the lives and emotions of the walkers themselves is an exceptional choice, allowing the film to be tense, moving, and complex.
‘It’s one of the best horror movies of the year.’
‘Francis Lawrence brilliantly adapts Stephen King’s The Long Walk into a harrowing cinematic journey with profound philosophical depth,’ Julian Roman, from MovieWeb, added.
The Long Walk: Key details
Director
Francis Lawrence
Writer
JT Mollner, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King
Cast
Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Garrett Wareing
Age rating
15
Runtime
108mins
Release date
September 12, 2025
‘Each bloody step and brutal mile is a visceral experience that’s riveting from the first frame.’
Stephen has been behind some of the biggest horror novels and adaptations in cinema history, including It, Carrie and The Shining.
He authored The Long Walk in the 70s under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, and recently shared that the book actually gave him ‘sleepless nights’ while working on it.
During an AMA (ask me anything) session on Reddit last month, he shed light on how the project came to be.
Critics branded it one of the ‘best horror movies of the year’ (Picture: Lionsgate)
Stephen King revealed he had ‘sleepless nights’ writing the book (Picture: Lionsgate)
SoFlyInTheSky adked him: ‘Hey Stephen. Long time fan. My question is this: when you’re writing a book like “The Longest Walk” are there ever times when you’re writing a scene that even you have to put the pen down because it gets too dark?’
‘There was a scene in the book where Gary Barkovich ripped out his own throat,’ he replied. ‘That gave me a few sleepless nights.’
When questioned about his process was for adapting the book to the big screen, he added: ‘I heard Francis Lawrence was on board to direct, with JT Mollner to do the screenplay, and I said, “Go for it.”
‘Love how it turned out.’
The Long Walk is in cinemas now.
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