Finally sat down to watch this. I had intended to see it when it released, but I just missed it. I do, regrettably, miss more films in theaters than I would like to, but the schedule doesn’t always work out in the way I try to make it.
So, popped a bag of popcorn, opened a can of pop, and settled into The Long Walk.
Knowing roughly the premise, it picks up right where it needs to. Ray being driven by his mother to the starting line. Now, in this world, there is not much that is explained. There was a war. There is some sort of dictatorship. As it goes on, you discover that many things are banned, the teaching of enjoyment of outlawed – books, music, likely other enjoyments.
You don’t see the upper class – those striving for the win are certainly of low economic status.
It’s possible that everyone applies to the Long Walk Lottery – only fifty are chosen each year, one from each state.
And the winner gets a heap of money and one wish.
It’s in this environment that Ray meets Pete. And while at first, like the characters, you’re not sure if there’s substance there, as they walk on, so do we. And it becomes apparent that friendship can form in the strangest of places.
There are others who become a part of the pack, and a story of battlefield camaraderie takes hold.
It isn’t long into the movie before the first contestant is removed, with extreme prejudice. Before the Title Crawl actually. And it lets the viewer know the stakes.
About halfway through, I found myself loving the relationship between Pete and Ray, and I was happy the story hinged on that. I’d not read the story, but I assumed I knew where the film was going. It still took a turn, and left several twists that I wouldn’t have expected. Plus a couple I’d called early.
Even still, at moments I would find tears in my eyes, and wish that, like one contestant said (paraphrasing) – “I’d wish that two could win the Long Walk, so that you had a chance to finish with your friend.”
Enjoyed it, but not sure if that’s one I’ll get around to watching again.
Michael's Musings 