This isn't a "good movie 10/10" type of review, and frankly, I’m struggling to find a way to express my disappointment without giving away key plot points. It's safe to say that many characters will meet their end early on, with the main character and his best friend being among the last survivors. Please keep in mind this is just my opinion; I don’t present it as an objective truth. Let me begin. Watching The Long Walk felt precisely as its title suggests: a long, tedious, bland, and repetitive experience. It represents a particularly frustrating kind of failure – not a movie about aliens interrupting the competition and abducting the authority figure, which would have been less enjoyable but at least entertaining. Instead, it strives for a tone of philosophical seriousness and attempts to be something more than "just" a movie—specifically, a “great” movie—but falls short. I’ve broken down my thoughts into four categories I consider essential for a good film: graphics, story, characters (including dialogue), and worldbuilding. I'm not addressing what defines a truly *great* movie, which requires more than just these elements; it needs to educate and elevate, though that’s a matter of perspective. The visuals were... acceptable. The film is live-action, and the use of an anamorphic lens – usually indicating high production values – is noticeable. The colors were pleasant, not too vibrant or muted. The resolution was also adequate; I didn't perceive it as particularly high-definition, especially when examining facial details, though this only became apparent when I specifically looked for it. However, the frame rate proved problematic. Some fast-moving shots of cornfields had a low frame rate that induced nausea, something I rarely experience while watching movies. A simple story isn’t inherently flawed; a movie can succeed with a straightforward plot if the characters are compelling and well-developed, and the worldbuilding is present. But in The Long Walk, there's hardly a story to speak of. The premise—50 people competing in a life-or-death race—is all you get. There are some interesting characters who briefly add flavor to the proceedings, including our protagonist Raymond Garraty and his new friend Peter McVries. What would have been intriguing was Ray’s arrival with his mother and their later reunion during the walk; it was one of a few instances that hinted at worldbuilding. The timing of the warnings also felt contrived, as some characters received them almost instantly while others could pause for extended periods, undermining any sense of immersion because it seemed designed to heighten drama. Discussing the characters is difficult given that 75% die during the first day, so I’ll disregard most of them and avoid the initial trash-talking exchanges. The characters in The Long Walk represent a significant missed opportunity. Interesting philosophical and ethical topics are introduced, only to be abandoned abruptly. Gary Barkovitch stands out as the best-developed character; he provokes another walker into attacking him, leading to his execution, which elicits disdain from both other characters and the audience. We later learn that this wasn't his intention and that he feels remorseful. It’s one of only two instances of character development I could identify. The film alludes to Barkovitch’s past, and it’s a shame it doesn’t explore him further, as the novel does. His portrayal is thin, but it’s the best the movie offers. Richard Harkness, the “nerd” of the group, serves as a contrast to Barkovitch. He possesses extensive knowledge about The Long Walk and intends to write and sell a book about his experiences. However, he fails to grasp that his motivations are illogical; if he doesn’t win, he dies without publishing his book, but victory would render the book unnecessary. When he inevitably dies, his dialogue attempts to suggest some character development, which was never established throughout the film. His personality remained stereotypical until his death. Regarding the main character, Ray Garraty hopes to use a gun to kill The Major, who killed his father for spreading “wrong thoughts and ideas.” McVries has to explain his backstory to convince him that love is more important than vengeance—though Garraty doesn

Source on TMDB