The Long Walk (2025)

This has my second favorite sleepwalking scene right behind Stepbrothers.

I love this little mid-budget movie way more than I thought I would. It’s Dystopian 101 - which makes total sense coming from the director of The Hunger Games films - but it commits to its concept fully. I was genuinely surprised by some of the violence and gore they were willing to show on young adult characters. This doesn’t pull its punches.

Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are both great here. They’re going to have bright careers ahead of them - you can feel the presence and emotional depth they bring to what could have been one-dimensional roles.

My favorite character in the movie though? That cat with no eyes. Incredible supporting performance.

What I really appreciated is how focused and character-driven this is. The Long Walk doesn’t get bogged down in elaborate worldbuilding or explaining the mechanics of this terrible dystopian future. It trusts you to understand the premise and then just focuses on the experience of these kids walking, talking, and slowly breaking down. That restraint makes it work.

This is exactly the kind of tight, smart, mid-budget thriller we need more of. Simple concept, strong execution, genuine stakes.

Also on Letterboxd