5 soars. Would give 5 sjars if I could.

The Long Walk, based on the book of the same name by Stephen King, is an absolute masterclass in cinematography. The story is simple but deeply touching and emotional. It plays to the political fears of the modern era even though it's set nearly 50 years ago.

Possible spoilers ahead...

The plot of the movie follows 50 young men who are selected at random to compete in a marathon for a gazillion dollars. The world around them is in shambles and America has descended into an authoritarian/facist state with rampant poverty following the economic collapse brought about by a third world war.

All of the boys must walk until they cannot continue. Failing to keep pace or leaving the path is cause for immediate execution. There is no escape. Death is inevitable. The last boy standing wins the prize money and a single wish.

Under these constraints, the movie performs flawlessly. The sets are that of simple countryside and the music is saved only for the most intense and draining of moments. The death of every boy is felt in the audience and the ending is cruel and depressing, yet satisfactory.

That being said, I do feel that King left a lot to be desired with regards to world building. We know nothing about so many of the characters and only a few towns are even given names. The movie is visually intense and gory, even going so far as to depict feces. Some of the music feels "right" and some of it feel extraneous, as so much of the movie is in quiet dialogue. And the ending is sad enough to bring me to tears.

The commentary made in the movie and the bonds developed between the characters is invigorating. It's an emotional experience and gripping to watch. I never had a moment of boredom, even though the premise sounds quite dull.

I recommend you go to see this on the big screen if you have the chance. For the best viewing experience, go by yourself or with a couple of friends and try to secure a relatively empty theater.

Fun facts:
- The movie, which takes place in America, was shot entirely in Canada.
- In select pre-screening, viewers were made to walk on treadmills for the duration of the movie and forced to leave the showing early if they were unable to maintain the same walking pace as the characters.