I Didn’t Think The Long Walk Could Look More Tragically Sad. Then I Watched The New Trailer

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As a passionate movie critic, if you’ve ever been captivated by the haunting narratives spun by Stephen King, I strongly encourage you to delve into the chilling tales crafted under the pen name Richard Bachman. This secret identity of King was where he penned his rawest and grittiest stories. Two of these works, often referred to as “the Bachman Books,” are set to grace our movie screens in 2025. The upcoming film “The Long Walk,” premiering this September, is the earlier of the two adaptations, and based on its trailer, it promises to be a melancholic journey.

Instead of trusting Lionsgate’s marketing team to say “Here, hold my pen,” they decided to unveil a trailer that appears even more emotionally harrowing during their San Diego Comic Con presentation. At its core, The Long Walk is heartrending, as a group of volunteers for the titular competition face just two options: walk or perish. This trailer, however, reveals the deeply sorrowful journey that awaits.

Among the lineup of contenders, we find Cooper Hoffman from “Saturday Night” and David Jonsson, who recently shone in the summer blockbuster “Alien: Romulus.” This upcoming Stephen King movie has sparked a new source of emotional investment for me – one that also intrigues both myself and frequent King adapting director, Mike Flanagan.

In both previews, it appears that main character Raymond Garraty, played by Cooper Hoffson, and his new companion Peter McVries, portrayed by David Jonsson, are growing closer amidst the shadows. Yet, this latest trailer hints at an unexpected complication to their arrangements.

Beyond merely establishing the principle “it’s unwise to form friendships during The Long Walk,” Peter goes a step further by befriending and mentoring Raymond in his journey towards victory. This fact adds an extra layer of tension when Cooper Hoffman’s character delivers his line, making it all the more nerve-wracking.

Nobody wants it more than me. This is my chance to change things.

Following that shocking statement, brief glimpses of distressing scenes ensue – one such instance being David Jonsson’s heart-wrenching scream. Regardless of whether Raymond Garraty chooses to sacrifice himself or betray Peter McVries for his own gain, it appears that The Long Walk is shaping up to be a Stephen King reinterpretation of the classic tale The Fox and the Hound.

Absolutely, what sets this novel apart is its powerful representation of the Vietnam War through an allegory. Consequently, it’s not easy to keep dry eyes while picturing characters like Copper and Tod amidst a war-torn battlefield.

Moreover, Eric Eisenberg, our resident King Beat correspondent at TopMob, seems astonished that The Long Walk was adapted at all, making it seem like an older sibling cautioning you about the challenges ahead. This description is especially fitting when considering how Mr. Eisenberg perceives this adaptation as potentially the most intense Stephen King adaptation of 2025.

Given that I haven’t read “The Long Walk” yet, I plan to as part of my study on Stephen King. The dilemma is whether to read it before the movie’s release on September 12th or wait to watch it in the cinema for a fresh experience. That choice is Stephen King’s to make – I’m curious to see if he might be watching too!

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2025-07-26 02:37