What Is 'The Long Walk' about?
'The Long Walk' is released in cinemas on 12 September. So what's it about?
A number of Stephen King novels are heading for the big screen in the coming months. One of those is The Long Walk, which will be released on 12 September.
The Long Walk is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller based on Stephen King's chilling early novel, originally written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. Brought to life by director Francis Lawrence—best known for helming The Hunger Games franchise—this adaptation delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the price of survival and the horrifying limits of endurance.
Set in a dystopian future America governed by a totalitarian regime, the story follows a brutal, government-sponsored contest known as "The Long Walk." Each year, 100 teenage boys are chosen to participate in a deadly endurance event where the rules are simple but unforgiving: keep walking without falling below four miles per hour.
If a participant slows down or stops more than three times, they’re executed on the spot. Only one boy will survive—the last walker standing—earning fame, fortune, and anything he desires for the rest of his life.
At the center of the story is Ray Garraty, a 16-year-old from Maine who enters the Long Walk not fully understanding the psychological and physical horrors that lie ahead. As the miles stretch on, friendships are formed, rivalries ignite, and the mental toll begins to eclipse even the physical exhaustion. The boys must wrestle not only with their failing bodies but with the haunting realization that the only path to survival is through the death of others—and possibly, the death of their own humanity.Adapted by screenwriter JT Mollner, the film blends King's stark, harrowing vision with Lawrence’s skill for character-driven tension and world-building. While The Long Walk contains elements of suspense, action, and horror, at its heart it is a devastating psychological drama that asks haunting moral questions: What would you sacrifice to survive? What does it mean to win in a game where everyone else must die?
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Produced by Lionsgate in association with Media Capital Technologies, and from Vertigo Entertainment and about:blank, The Long Walk promises to be both a visceral cinematic experience and a deeply unsettling reflection on youth, power, and control.
With its chilling premise and emotional depth, The Long Walk stands poised to become one of the most talked-about Stephen King adaptations in years.