No one chooses “The Long Walk.” Not actually. That’s the important thing to surviving Stephen King’s cult-hit horror novel from 1979 — a couple of fascist American authorities and a bunch of sweet sixteen boys who supposedly “volunteer” for its deadly endurance check.
Published beneath the pseudonym Richard Bachman, greater than a decade after King cracked the idea, “The Long Walk” is technically the primary e-book from the legendary creator. King wrote it when he was simply 19 years outdated and nonetheless a scholar on the University of Maine. But the knowledge he gave his characters again then may clarify among the success he has now.
“None of us really has anything to lose. That makes it easier to give away.”
“If people took it one day at a time, they’d be a lot happier.”
“Pick ’em up. Put ’em down. Just keep walking down the road.”
I’ve been quoting recommendation from “The Long Walk” since I used to be youthful than Bachman, however the core genius of King’s first novel didn’t totally sink in for me till I noticed Lionsgate’s terrifying new film adaptation in theaters. Marching greater than 5 miles… with over a dozen strangers… within the darkish(!!), I couldn’t inform if the immersive exercise selected me — or if I selected it.
Yes, I used to be one of many fortunate few who received to see “The Long Walk” early, on a treadmill.
“The emotion is the hard part,” stated Briana McElroy, Lionsgate‘s head of worldwide digital advertising and marketing, to IndieWire. “We wanted audiences to put themselves in these characters’ shoes, and watching people connect with that idea has been so, so exciting.”
Inside the historic Culver Theater in Los Angeles over Labor Day weekend, seats had been swapped for orange train tools and actors stepped in as drill sergeants. Not not like the foundations of the loss of life sport we had been simulating, our commanders’ directives had been deceptively easy. Maintain a velocity of three miles per hour and you’ll end the film. But fall beneath that threshold for even a second? That’s sport over and also you will get kicked out.
“This movie is such a physically and emotionally compelling proposition,” stated McElroy. “That’s really where the heart of this idea came from, and seeing the incredible reaction people have had to it online makes us even more excited about the release.”
Directed by Francis Lawrence (“The Hunger Games”) and written by JT Mollner (“Strange Darling”), Lionsgate’s surprising new horror film opens in theaters nationwide on September 12, however the train gimmick gained’t develop with it. If you’re nonetheless making an attempt to see “The Long Walk” early — and also you’re within the Los Angeles space tonight — then it is best to be part of me and actress Judy Greer for IndieWire’s particular superior screening and Q&A.
We’ll be on the AMC Century City on Thursday, September 4 at 7 p.m. Request an invite for IndieWire’s special early screening of “The Long Walk” here.
Sadly, the midnight film magic that befell me and my Long Treadmill compatriots will probably be gone from our metropolis by then. Turns out, you may hire light-weight treadmills which can be remarkably straightforward to maneuver, and they are often set at a hard and fast velocity. Strategizing earlier than the occasion, I knew we’d cowl about 5 miles if we didn’t go sooner than we needed to. In the top, we had been pressured to complete the hour and 48 minutes at a tempo that technically stored us “together” your complete stroll.
But seeing the boys’ distance climb on display, I virtually forgot our race totally.
“I was watching from the wings and I was feeling the emotion too,” stated McElroy. “I was very impressed with everybody and their stamina. Like, I’m crying, my eyes are blurry, and I just can’t imagine walking through it. The idea of what these boys went through in the book, the relationships they formed and tested by trying to win, then joining them in that by treating the stakes as 100 percent real in a theater, that just means everything to us.”
Since the daybreak of smartphones, cinephiles have been complaining about second-screeners who can’t appear to sit down by means of a film — however chasing after one prefer it’s the one carrot in an equestrian apocalypse may very well be an answer that truly works. I’m notoriously fidgety myself, and once I’m not taking notes for an article or a assessment, I wish to knit in theaters so I’ve one thing to do with my arms that’s silent. Gyms may be loud, and heading into what was truly my second viewing of “The Long Walk” (extra on that later), I used to be involved the “whirr-whirr-whirr” of the treadmills may drown out the concern and distress on display.
In actuality, the propulsive noise snapped us to consideration and it appeared to subtly push the film ahead. This was an influencer occasion, so, sure, attendees had been utilizing their telephones. But even capturing content material for social media, “The Long Walk” held everybody’s consideration. Our drill sergeants struggled to maintain on their aviators contained in the darkish theater, and though they had been very attentive about giving us water, the stay performers appeared simply as captivated by the movie as they had been with managing the sport and its individuals.
“The first reaction people have is wondering if they can handle it, physically,” stated McElroy. “But the tech check was the second-most harrowing experience I’ve had today.”
Shortly earlier than the screening (mine was one in every of three that occurred inside Auditorium 11, Culver Theater’s most versatile occasion area), I launched myself to a couple other people who had been standing round. Our thespian captors largely mean-mugged me, however I had an “Allie” to my left and a “Christine” to my proper who had been heat, pleasant, and prepared to speak.
When that Allie stumbled and almost fell throughout the movie’s first 20 minutes, this Ali panicked considering her new pal may get kicked out. Instead, the instructors confirmed the Other Allie mercy (presumably as a result of they didn’t see the incident till it was too late to repair?), and he or she received the day’s one and solely warning.
Everyone made it to the top, and that’s a testomony to the format. But even with out the effort of Lionsgate founding a nationwide health club/theater chain (a hybrid film palace known as one thing like however not precisely… Cinematic Soul Cycle?), the singular expertise the studio gave us so-called “volunteers” tells you why “The Long Walk” looks like necessary viewing for therefore many severe Stephen King followers in 2025.
In the film, No. 47 Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) grapples with the implications of placing his identify in a lottery mandated by a authorities that’s solely claiming to present him a selection. He’s flanked by associates in addition to foes — No. 23 Peter McVries (David Jonsson), No. 38 recognized solely as “Stebbins” (Garret Wareing), No. 46 Hank Olson (Ben Wang), No. 48 Collie Parker (Joshua Odjick), No. 6 Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot), and extra. We meet Ray in a sea of hopeless rivals succumbing to a capitalist rat race that has no actual winners. In an try to hold onto my very own id, I wore Doc Martens as a substitute of sneakers.
Lionsgate may have a full-on fascist subject day explaining why Mark Hamill was the suitable option to play the General for “The Long Walk.” Star Wars devotees, who’ve extra ideas on the 73-year-old actor than I may even faux, know all too nicely that epic adventures could make highly effective metaphors for authoritarianism. But loss of life video games let you know how they finish by design, and the final man standing within the film is a far cry from Luke Skywalker.
Disturbing and graphic moments pepper “The Long Walk” like buckshot, and because the going received more durable for Ray and his buddies, I had a tougher and tougher time managing my very own stability. The treadmill was slim. My footwear had made me cocky. And nonetheless, the torture pressed on. I virtually paid the worth throughout what I take into account to be probably the most emotional scene within the film, when my glasses flew off however I continued to stroll and cry in place. The friendliest jailer of the bunch grabbed them from the ground for me, and the Other Allie leaned in fastidiously from her treadmill to ask if I used to be OK.
Afterwards, I instructed some folks I used to be embarrassed to have faltered as a result of I’d seen the movie earlier than. There’s a slew of causes I couldn’t assessment “The Long Walk” for IndieWire. For starters, I’ve beloved this e-book since I used to be an adolescent — and so far as screenwriters go, I’m satisfied JT Mollner can do no unsuitable. I additionally come from a household of batshit insane long-distance runners, and nowadays, for those who speak to me at a bar anytime previous 9 p.m., I’ve received extra to say about politics than you wish to hear.
But what’s the primary cause another person at IndieWire will probably be critiquing “The Long Walk”? Because I attended a check screening of the film this spring, and in my written suggestions, I instructed the very treadmill thought the studio later delivered to life for zany King followers like me.
“Dream factory occasionally does make dreams,” stated TIFF midnight programmer Peter Kuplowsky, once I DM’d him in regards to the unforgettable occasion in an overjoyed frenzy.
Early buzz for the difference is powerful, and the web response to the treadmill activation has been quietly extraordinary to observe. Standing or sitting, that is my favourite horror movie of the year (to date!) and I’m excited to get again on the path with a 3rd screening quickly. Exiting the auditorium, critically questioning the Docs determination, one other “Long Walk” line got here to thoughts.
“‘FUCK THE LONG WALK,’” I joked to one in every of my favourite publicists, No. 1 Alfonso Ardon.
Taking on a small insurrection in the midst of a battle for his or her lives, the boys use that rallying cry to get by means of the center hunch of their grueling journey. It’s one in every of my favourite scenes within the movie, and whereas I’m very pleased with the free swag I received on the treadmill screening, I discussed to Alfonso how nice I assumed that may be on a t-shirt. The solely race to resolve now? Whether I select to make one… or Lionsgate beats me to it.
“The Long Walk” is in theaters September 12. See it early with IndieWire on September 4.
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