These boys aren’t just eye candy; they’re getting eviscerated without remorse. The boys in question are the main attraction of “The Long Walk” by Stephen King, a cult classic allegory for fascism which was recently adapted this September. Originally written in the late 1960s and published in 1979, the book is a commentary on the Vietnam War, to which King was vehemently opposed. During the war, the U.S. government forced children as young as 14 years old to fight in a foreign country, blindly leading them to their deaths. In 2025, the story has been reinterpreted by director Francis Lawrence to criticize the way that the United States has been run these past few years.
The adaptation did an excellent job of portraying certain aspects of American culture. It draws direct parallels to concepts like the American Dream, with the government in the film setting up the Long Walk as propaganda for the American citizens. It is represented as a “golden ticket” opportunity for them to escape poverty, preying on the boys throughout the film. This naivety and tenacity are slowly worn down over the course of the movie, whittling the main characters down to their core, stripping them of their humanity and their innocence.
Stephen King’s theme of loss of innocence is also incredibly well-translated into the movie. In the exposition, one character who has been led to believe they’re important ends up getting shot, which demonstrates the brutality and indiscriminate murder of the boys on their journey. Their deaths along the walk shows the conditions they’re put under, pushing them deeper into insanity. Many of them sabotage and bully each other, often leading to their continual deaths.
The movie did an excellent job with its depiction of the struggle the boys face, especially with the strategic use of music. Tense scenes are dotted with shorter rhythms, adding to the bleak feeling of helplessness, while rising and falling notes by basses and cellos continue throughout the movie, slowing the intensifying anxiety of the audience. This humanizes the boys during their journey, showing the uneasiness and fear they face on their treacherous campaign.
Overall, “The Long Walk” was horribly gruesome and an amazing allegory for the rise of fascism. It’s excellent all around: the acting, music, and resolution all adding up to create a feeling of impending doom and hopelessness.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on Oct. 2, 2025
