The Long Walk, based on the novel by Stephen King, is a brutal, moving and engaging piece of filmmaking that follows a group of young men making an unending walk, until only of them survives to claim the prize and receive one wish.

Dystopian in nature, something director Francis Lawrence (he directed Constantine, and I love that movie) is familiar with, thanks to his work on The Hunger Games series. Despite the film’s simple trappings, it works incredibly well, and rests easily on the young cast members who play the young men on their last and long walk.

Every year, boys volunteer for a chance at fifty positions. When filled, the walk begins, and they must keep up a constant pace of three miles an hour. If they drop below that for any reason, they receive a warning, second and third warnings follow, and then they get their ticket punched if they still haven’t gotten underway.

Cooper Hoffman plays Raymond Garraty. He has a personal reason for entering the Walk, more than just the prize money, but the Walk will change him. He pals up with Peter McVries played by David Jonsson, who is an actor to keep an eye on. He’s been fantastic in everything he’s been in so far, and I expect great things from him.

The Walk is overseen by the Major (a sunglassed, capped, goateed, and gravelly voiced Mark Hamill). Hamill is practically unrecognizable in the role, and you’ve never seen him this evil before.

When the warnings come, tension permeates the screen, and it does nothing but escalate as you watch the Walk’s minders pull guns on the Walkers. It’s truly brutal and terrifying. Some of this is really not an easy watch, but that’s the point.

The beautiful pastoral backdrops serve as a counterpoint to the terror being delivered on the unending pavement.

And I absolutely loved the visual look of the film, the costume and production design. Obviously, the story could be taking place now-ish, but there are no modern cars, the clothes seem to be throwbacks to both the 50s and the 70s, and there’s nothing to tie it to a specific time, which allows for a bit of timelessness to the story.

I thought it was a fantastic film, I loved the pairing of Jonsson and Hoffman, and there are also some incredible turns by Judy Greer and Ben Wang.

Watching the dynamic develop between the boys as they walk, and the way it fluxes and changes through their time together, and the way they try to help one another carry on, it’s something to watch.

It’s not always easy, and it’s often heartbreaking, but damn if it isn’t good.