I Can’t Get Through The Long Walk Footage Without Crying. I’m Terrified Of What The Movie Is Going To Do To Me

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There are numerous Stephen King projects set to hit the 2025 release calendar, but the one that initially piqued my interest was Edgar Wright’s film adaptation of The Running Man, starring Glen Powell (with Michael Cera causing chaos with a water gun in the trailer). However, after watching the trailer for The Long Walk, I found myself unable to keep my composure and feeling genuinely terrified about what’s in store when the movie comes out.

The Long Walk Trailer Has Wrecked Me Repeatedly Now.

I’ve had the chance to watch the trailer for “The Long Walk” not just once, but three times now. The first time was during Lionsgate’s CinemaCon 2025 presentation, seated among a crowd of journalists – a professional setting, yet it moved me to tears. The second time was before an F1 viewing, and the third on my computer screen. Each viewing has left me with a powerful emotional response. My eyes fill with tears, but I can’t look away from the screen. My stomach knots up, and my legs turn to jelly. I’m both terrified and compelled to keep watching. If the film is meant to elicit this reaction, it’s already accomplished its goal.

The Long Walk” portrays a band of children journeying an unspecified distance, with the promise of life-altering cash rewards at the end. The catch? If you lag behind, you perish. In one instance, all participants appear to be encouraging each other. However, a particular youth is falling behind. Suddenly, a gunshot rings out. Another scene shows a boy’s shoelace coming undone, causing him distress as he battles to re-tie it, fearing dire consequences.

Whenever I come across a carelessly left shoe, my inner voice constantly urges, ‘Stand up! Stand up!’ It’s become such an issue that it often invades my dreams. With just a few minutes watched, this movie has already left me traumatized for the long haul.

The Long Walk Source Material Is So Tough It Took A Long Time For The Movie To Get Made

The making of this film has been a lengthy process, spanning many years. Previously, we delved into the origins of the movie in our The Long Walk guide. Over time, multiple contributors have shared their experiences, expressing doubts about its feasibility and production for several years. In the ’80s, George Romero was rumored to be involved. Frank Darabont held the rights at one point. Initially slated for release in 2019 by André Øvredal, the project eventually stalled, leaving many skeptical about its future progress.

Around fifteen years ago, dystopian literature gained popularity, featuring series such as “The Walking Dead,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Divergent.” However, “The Long Walk” had yet to be adapted at that time.

In our previous discussion on TopMob, it was noted that one issue with the movie adaptation of “The Long Walk” was its prolonged portrayal of children walking for extended periods. Additionally, the content itself sparked controversy, as stated by the writer JT Pollner who described it as “disturbing and somewhat controversial.” Another challenge faced during filming was the extensive amount of walking required from the cast, with them having to repeatedly walk a specific route measuring about ¾ of a mile for each take.

To the individual responsible for maintaining consistency throughout this film, my respects go out to you! Yet, my admiration extends further to the impressive young cast members who bravely traversed more than 300 miles during the production of “The Long Walk”.

I shared with my colleague Eric Eisenberg, who is known as TopMob’s Stephen King expert, that this movie has left quite an impact on me. Given his familiarity with the 1979 source material the film will be adapted from, he expressed surprise too, even stating that he found it astonishing that “The Long Walk” was being made. Although I haven’t read the book and don’t know its conclusion, my understanding is that I’m in store for a powerful emotional experience.

It seems clear to me that, given my strong emotional response at this early stage, there’s likely to be more hardship ahead. If I find it challenging to endure just three minutes of this movie, how will I manage its full 108-minute duration?

As a devoted fan, I can’t wait for the arrival of “The Long Walk” by Stephen King on September 12th. However, truth be told, after experiencing some of his chilling tales, I find myself a little too unnerved to enthusiastically invite such a thriller into my life just yet!

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2025-08-13 14:12