The Long Walk – Book Vs. Movie

Hi all!

Today I am going to compare The Long Walk by Stephen King, to the recently released film adaptation. Before anyone tries to claim that Stephen King capitalised off the success of The Hunger Games, The Long Walk was published in 1979, under his psuedonym: Richard Bachman. He gave us a game of death of story, long before anyone else did. I finally read it for the first time this year, right before the movie came out. As usual, I have a lot to discuss, so without further ado, let’s get into it!

SPOILER WARNING AHEAD!

100 teenage boys compete in a deadly annual event, in a dystopian future America. They must walk continuously along a route, maintaining a minimum speed, until only one survivor remains. If a boy falls below the required pace, after receiving three warnings, he is shot and killed by soldiers, with the ultimate prize for the sole survivor, being the ability to have “whatever he wants”. The story follows protagonist, Ray Garraty, as he navigates this brutal contest, forming bonds and witnessing the unforgiving deaths of his fellow walkers.

THE LONG WALK – THE BOOK

The Long Walk is a surprisingly short book. Despite the page count, it packs a real punch. From the very beginning, we are introduced to a charismatic group of boys, we know we’re going to have to eventually say goodbye to, one by one. However, that doesn’t make their deaths any easier. To build and maintain tension, there are many close calls in this novel, particulary where Garraty is concerned. He borders on getting his ‘ticket‘ many times, leaving you with your heart in your throat. After all, we are following his perspective and therefore anticipate, he will be the sole victor by the end. The predictability in no way ruins the suspense. It’s still a brutal, ugly competition that doesn’t shy away from the realities of its structure. I felt nauseated, scared and downright disturbed by what befell many of the boys. Having said that, I do think the story becomes reptitive. That is why it’s so short. There were only so many ways King could describe the paths taken, the hunger, the pain, the thirst, the sickness and the fear. He did it brilliantly, don’t get me wrong, but as a book, the pacing (for want of a better term) felt slow. I kept thinking whilst I was reading it, ‘this would make a much better film.’ I also did not like the ending. It was far too ambiguous for me. There was no concrete answer. Sure, Garraty was the last man standing, but when he ran toward the beckoning dark figure, did that mean he died? Furthermore, I truly couldn’t understand why 100 boys would volunteer to be part of The Long Walk. It’s not like the Reaping, where the children have no choice. They know they will die. They know only one can win. I needed a stronger motivation, aside from the promise of getting whatever one desires most. But what King does well in every single book he writes, is character development. These boys have deep, thought-provoking conversations with another. They form short-lived bonds and make light of the situation, when there’s no light to be found. In particular, McVries, my personal favourite, shows Garraty that beauty exists everywhere you look. I really enjoyed my reading experience and the uncomfortable reactions it evoked from me. Job well done.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

50 teens participate in a grueling high-stakes contest, where they must continuously walk or be shot by a member of their military escort.

THE LONG WALK – THE MOVIE

As predicted above, The Long Walk made a much better film (in my opinion). There were some creative decisions I really appreciated. For one, it was directed by the perfect man. Francis Lawrence has directed all The Hunger Games films (aside from the first one), including Sunrise on the Reaping, which is coming out in 2026. What better person to tackle a game of death story? He really brought Stephen King’s vision to life. He also didn’t cut corners with the brutality. This movie is rated R for good reason. We, as viewers, witness gore, bodilly fluids, splatter and more. This was honestly the best decision the production team could’ve made. Why shy away from the realities of a competition like this? It was disgusting and hard to watch at times, which was the point. Secondly, they reduced the number of participants from 100 to 50. I thought this was a great choice. I always thought 100 was too much. 50 not only gave the boys more motivation to compete (after all, this ups their odds of winning) but it quickens the pace, which was an issue I had whilst reading the book. It was also easier to keep track of everybody. Thirdly, the movitation behind Garraty‘s participation made a lot more sense to me. In the novel, we learn that Garrarty’s father was taken away by the squad. In the movie, we actually see him get shot in front of his son. It’s much more personal. I was able to buy into Ray’s rationale. Finally, what I appreciated the most, out of all the changes that were made, was the ending. Instead of Garraty being the last man standing, it was my beloved McVries. Francis Lawrence really fathomed how superior McVries is – played brilliantly by David Jonsson. By the end, McVries shifts his peaceful mentality, to one of revenge. When Garraty sacrificed himself for McVries, he could not accept his friend’s death being for nothing. And so, he chose vengeance over growth. I love this interpretation. It was a lot less ambiguous, proving that the nature of the game will eventually try to stamp out whatever hope someone has left. It was such a shock watching McVries walk away. Did he end up getting shot for killing The Major? That part is unclear, but either way, I truly respected the decision to alter the ending. It is my preferred conclusion. My one negative was The Major himself. I actually found him more intimidating in the book. Mark Hamill’s portrayal was less believable for me. I do wonder if that was a casting choice or the way the character was written. I’m guessing the former. Overall, the film adaptation retained the heart and soul of the book. I loved the deep conversations in between the horror. I was more invested in the boys, seeing them in person. Some of their deaths cut deep (Olson) and the tension ramped up at the perfect times (i.e. the hill scene, the first death and the ending). It is, without a doubt, going to make my top 10 favourite horror movies of 2025.

I gave it 4.5/5 stars

IN CONCLUSION

As expected, I preferred the film over the book. That rarely happens. The book is typically the winner every single time. However, in this case, it just worked so much better on screen. Not to mention, all the issues I struggled with whilst reading, were corrected/changed in the movie. I highly recommend checking out both and making up your own mind.

Please let me know your thoughts. Do you prefer the movie or the book? Why/why not? Thanks for reading!

Peace & Love xoxo