Cert - 15

Run-time - 1 hour 48 minutes

Director - Francis Lawrence

50 teenagers take part in The Long Walk, maintaining a speed of at least 3mph or they get shot. Last one standing wins.

The Long Walk may not be as bleak as Frank Darabont's adaptation of The Mist, but it certainly isn't amongst the happiest of Stephen King adaptations, and certainly doesn't have the life-affirming nature that some have found in The Life Of Chuck. It's a downbeat look at another dystopian future where teens are battling in a last one standing contest with deadly results for the losers - fittingly, frequent Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence helms here.

50 teenagers from across the US are invited via optional lottery to take part in The Long Walk. Once given the sign to start by Mark Hamill's gruff, state message repeating Major they must keep a minimum speed of 3mph without stopping or straying from the path, otherwise they're shot by the soldiers travelling in camera-holding military vehicles alongside the walkers.

The protagonists are given warnings blared through speakers on the truck crawling behind them. If further in front these warnings, and eventual gunshots, echo with a haunting dread in the background - we've seen the gory consequences already.

The cast, led by the great duo of Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson as #47 Raymond Garrity and #23 Peter McVries - initially reluctant to making friends knowing the fate almost everyone will likely meet before needing the friendship to get them through the trial - each display the growing panic and tiredness experienced as the days and miles go on.

Ben Wang puts in a particularly effective physical performance, especially as his character gets quieter and quieter the more distance is covered, holding some of the most impactful moments encapsulating the darkness of the surrounding dystopia.

Tensions rise amongst the cast, mixed with the fear they're experiencing as their numbers lower. Anger and desperation start to mix, especially in contrast to the ill-fated friendships formed. All well captured in the performances and overall flow of the film.

The Long Walk certainly feels like one of King's more difficult-to-adapt books, originally published in 1979 under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, however thanks to the consistent movement of the film and development of events there's a maintained engagement throughout. One that makes the most of the on-edge nature of the characters which is put onto the audience.

Details of the world are given away in natural conversations about the walk, those watching from the side of the road and how the contenders came to take part in the first place - with the offer of a big cash prize, a wish granted and becoming a sign of hope for everyone struggling in America.

The journey is consistently downbeat and shocking with the brutal sights we see. Yet, not enough to have turned me away completely. There's hope in the bonds we see form, even if some do lead to inevitable pain and tragedy. Tragedy which is established early on and continues to hang over the fatal walk.

Four stars