THE LONG WALK : Wednesday 17th September 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'THE LONG WALK' at my local independent movie theatre this week, and this American dystopian survival thriller film is Co-Produced and Directed by Francis Lawrence who after years of Directing music videos turned his hand to feature films with his debut in 2005 with 'Constantine', which he would follow up with 'I Am Legend' in 2007, 'Water for Elephants' in 2011, 'The Hunger Games : Catching Fire' in 2013, 'The Hunger Games : Mockingjay - Parts 1 & 2' in 2014 and 2015, 'Red Sparrow' in 2018, 'Slumberland' in 2022 and 'The Hunger Games : The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' in 2023. This film is based on the 1979 novel by Stephen King (writing under his pseudonym Richard Bachman), and has been in development Hell since 1988 when George A. Romero was first linked to Direct the film adaptation, and since then it has been on again off again as numerous film makers have come and gone, until Lawrence took the helm. On a production budget of US$20M the film has so far grossed US$18M since its release Stateside and here in Australia last week and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

Here then, set in a dystopian United States ruled by a dictatorial regime, as a result of a war that broke out some time in the past, every year, thousands of teenage boys apply to participate in the Long Walk. This event in which fifty randomly chosen young men are given water and rations, must walk without stopping along a pre-determined route while soldiers escort them. Any walker who falls below three miles per hour is given a verbal warning, but can invalidate it by maintaining speed for an hour. If a walker receives three warnings and falls below speed again, he is shot on the spot and killed by the soldiers. The Walk ends when there is but one survivor left, who receives a substantial cash prize and can have one wish, any wish, fulfilled. 

Raymond 'Ray' Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) arrives at the starting point, and bids an emotional farewell to his mother Ginnie Garraty (Judy Greer) and meets the other participants, including Peter McVries (David Jonsson), Billy Stebbins (Garrett Wareing), Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot), Collie Parker (Joshua Odjick), Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer), Hank Olson (Ben Wang), and Richard Harkness (Jordan Gonzalez), along with the Major (Mark Hamill), who oversees the whole event. After each walker is given a dog tag bearing a number from one to fifty, and a quick set of rules and obligations is read out by the Major, the walk begins.

During the first day, Ray gets to know the other walkers and forms a close bond with Peter. A boy named Thomas Curley (Roman Griffin Davis) is the first to be killed, after he develops a painful cramp in his leg and is unable to keep up the minimum speed. Barkovitch is given a wide berth by the group for provoking another walker named Rank (Daymon Wrightly) into attacking him, resulting in Rank's execution. 

As the walk progresses, Ray reveals why he signed up to Peter, but makes him promise not to divulge this to anyone else. If successful in being the last man standing, his wish is for a guard's Carbine rifle and to use it to kill the Major, as revenge for executing his father for his staunch opposition to the political regime, a fact that he was prepared to die for. Peter tries to talk Ray out of it and confesses that when he is too tired to keep walking, he intends to stop and wait to die.

Harkness and many of the other walkers perish over the next few days, particularly when walking up a long steep incline late at night. Hank becomes delirious and attempts to attack the soldiers, who shoot him down and let him slowly bleed to death as punishment, and a deterrent to the other walkers. The next morning, the boys learn that Hank was married to Clementine, and the only man amongst the other forty-nine who was married. They all agree that the winner should give some of the prize money to his widow. Riddled with guilt over Rank's death, Barkovitch begs Ray to accept him into the group. Ray agrees, but Barkovitch suffers a mental breakdown soon afterward and fatally stabs himself several times in the throat with a spoon.

Eventually, only Ray, Peter, Stebbins, Arthur, and Collie remain. Stebbins, who has fallen ill, tries to persuade the others not to help each other anymore, so as not to prolong their suffering. Meanwhile the sole of Ray's shoe has come off, and he quickly discards both shoes and continues the walk in his bloodied socks. While walking through a town, Ray spots his mother watching and is given his third warning while trying to get to her, until Peter pulls him away just in time. 

Collie manages to steal a guard's rifle, shoots the guard, and then turns the gun on himself after the other soldiers wound him with several bullets to the gut. Arthur develops internal hemorrhaging and decides to stop walking, and is executed. As Stebbins' sickness worsens and he realises he no longer has a chance to win, he reveals to Ray and Peter why he chose to join the walk - he is one of the Major's many illegitimate children, and he intended to use his wish to force the man to accept him over tea at his house. He then tells the pair it was an honour to walk with them before stopping and allowing himself to be killed, leaving Ray and Peter as the final two walkers. 

Ray and Peter arrive at another town in the pouring rain late at night, where a crowd all sheltering under umbrellas has gathered to see who wins. Peter intentionally sits down, only for Ray to pick him up and encourage him to keep going. He does so, failing to notice that Ray himself has now stopped walking. The Major executes Ray and congratulates Peter for winning, while Peter cries out for his friend. When asked to state his wish, Peter carries out Ray's plan by asking for a Carbine rifle. The major responds saying that his wish will be granted and that he'll receive it in due course. Peter turns to a nearby guard and says that he wants his, to which the Major asks the guard to hand over his weapon. At which, Peter points the loaded rifle at the Major and says 'this is for Ray', pulls the trigger and kills him. He then continues walking down the road.

With 'The Long Walk' Director Francis Lawrence has delivered us one of the better Stephen King big screen adaptations in some years. However, this film is repetitive with forty-nine of the 'contestants' all buying the farm in some shape or form for stepping out of line, and not keeping up the pace, but, having said that it what these young men signed up for! Also you can figure out easily enough from the get go, who the last two men left standing are going to be, and in that respect the outcome is fairly predictable. On the positive front, the performances by Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson are top notch, and the bond the pair forge during their 330 or so mile long walk feels real and unforced. There are also some relevant present day messages at play in this film like the Major espousing pre-MAGA movement rhetoric, political unrest, economic and social downturn, the price of sacrifice and the true value of friendship, loyalty and the priorities we place on our lives and those of others. 'The Long Walk' is a solid enough film without being great, but it will leave you thinking long after the end credits have rolled, and hoping that this is a world we never get to see.

'The Long Walk' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th September 2025.

The 45th edition of the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) takes place from Wednesday 10th September through until Wednesday 17th September this year in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Since its beginnings in 1981 as a grassroots initiative in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Atlantic International Film Festival has blossomed into one of Atlantic Canada’s premier cultural events. Relocated to Halifax in 1982, AIFF continues to thrive in the heart of downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. Each September, AIFF transforms the city into a cinematic hub, offering an immersive experience for film lovers, filmmakers, and industry professionals from around the globe, by offering world-class films including local, national, international, World Premiere's and retrospective screenings; industry programming and special events and gatherings . . . so reads the official website. 

This years Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'At the Place of Ghosts' from Canada and Written and Directed by Bretten Hannam, that sees siblings Mise’l (Blake Alec Miranda) and Antle (Forrest Goodluck) were close confidants as children, but have drifted apart as adults. When a malevolent spirit begins tormenting them, the siblings are forced to reunite and journey into a primordial forest that exists outside of time, to confront their violent past. As long-buried wounds resurface, the siblings must face their trauma and the spectral echoes of their ancestors. The Closing Night Gala film is 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' from the USA and is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Bill Condon and is set in 1980's Argentina, where Molina (Tonatiuh) is a flamboyant window dresser who shares a cell with political prisoner Valentin (Diego Luna). Their unlikely friendship blossoms as Molina recounts his favourite film and Hollywood musical star, played by the captivating Jennifer Lopez.

In the World Cinema section of this years festival there are twenty-four films in total being showcased. Included in this segment are the following titles :-

* 'Blueberry Grunt' - from Canada and this drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sherry White. The film stars Joel Thomas Hynes and Liisa Repo-Martell as Harold and Vivian, a married couple whose relationship begins to unravel on a camping trip. World Premiere.

* 'Dancing on the Elephant' - from Canada and this comedy drama film is Directed by Julia Neill and Jacob Z. Smith and stars Sheila McCarthy as Nora, a woman involuntarily placed in a retirement home by her family, who meets fellow retiree Edna (Mary Walsh) and sets out to reclaim control of her life by embarking on an adventure with her new friend. World Premiere.

* 'Dreams (Sex Love)' - from Norway and this drama film is Written and Directed by Dag Johan Haugerud, and is the second part of a trilogy. The film follows Johanne's (Ella Overbye) infatuation with her French teacher Johanna (Selome Emnetu), which ignites tensions within her family, as her mother and grandmother confront their own unfulfilled dreams and desires.

* 'Hangashore' - from Canada and this thriller is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Justin Oakey. The film stars Hera Hilmar as Vera, an Icelandic artist haunted by recurring nightmares about her missing father. She travels to Newfoundland in search of him, and becomes drawn into a relationship with Jack (James Frecheville), a local seal hunter. World Premiere.

* 'The History of Sound' - from the US and the UK and this historical romantic drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Oliver Hermanus. The film follows the relationship between Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor), who meet in 1917 while attending the Boston Music Conservatory, and after World War I travel together recording folk songs of their countrymen in rural Maine in the summer of 1920. Also starring Chris Cooper.

* 'It Was Just an Accident' - from Iran, France and Luxembourg and this thriller is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Jafar Panahi. The film explores political repression in Iran and morality.

* 'Lovely Day' - from Canada and this comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Philippe Falardeau. The film follows a Lebanese Canadian man struggling to navigate the emotional and interpersonal challenges that threaten to derail the day of his wedding.

* 'The Mastermind' - from the US and the UK and this heist thriller film is Written, Directed and Edited by Kelly Reichardt. The plot follows a suburban family man living a double life as an art thief in the 1970's. Starring Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, Gaby Hoffman and John Magaro. 

* 'Mile End Kicks' - from Canada and this RomCom is Written and Directed by Chandler Levack. The film stars Barbie Ferreira as Grace Pine, a young woman who moves to Montreal, Quebec, with the goal of writing a book about Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill but instead becomes romantically involved with two members of an indie rock band and takes a job as the band's publicist. Also starring Jay Baruchel and Devon Bostick.

* 'Nouvelle Vague' - from France and the USA this comedy drama film is Directed by Richard Linklater. Starring Guillaume Marbeck as Jean-Luc Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo, it follows the shooting of 'Breathless', one of the first feature films of the Nouvelle Vague era of French cinema, in 1959.

* 'Peak Everything' - from Canada and this English and French RomCom is Written and Directed by Anne Emond. The film stars Patrick Hivon as Adam, a kennel owner from Montreal who suffers from depression and climate anxiety. After buying a light therapy box to counter his symptoms, he falls in love with Tina (Piper Perabo), the customer service representative who helps him set up the device over the phone, and sets off to Sudbury to find her.

* 'A Private Life' - from France and this black comedy mystery film is Co-Written and Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. The films sees the renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) mounting a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered. Also starring Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira and Mathieu Amalric.

* 'Sentimental Value' - from Norway, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and the UK and this comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Joachim Trier. Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Renate Reinsve and Elle Fanning this film is about a movie Director’s bid to revive his career and repair his family’s broken bonds.

* 'Sound of Falling' - from Germany and this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Mascha Schilinski, and follows four generations of girls connected by a farm in the Altmark region of Germany.

* 'The Things You Kill' - from Turkey, Poland, France and Canada and this mystery film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Alireza Khatami, and is about a university professor living and working in the USA who solicits his gardener to seek vengeance after the suspicious death of his mother in Turkey. 

For the Narrative New Waves, Late Night Visions, Documentaries and Short Films sections of the festival, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

This week we have six new release movies to tease you out to your local Odeon, kicking off with a Stephen King adaptation in which teenage young men participate in a gruelling high-stakes contest where they must continuously walk or be shot by a member of their military escort. Then we turn to an Aussie and New Zealand Co-Production where two strangers are possessed by grief, shared trauma and the same ghost. Next up we have an American comedy telling the story of a husband whose wife asks for a divorce, and so he runs to his friends for support, only to learn that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage. This is followed by a British historical drama offering that is the third and possibly final instalment in the film franchise that is set in the summer of 1930, where the Crawleys grapple with the threat of social disgrace when Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble. Following on we have an American fantasy comedy offering in which a young girl’s monster drawings come to life after falling into a strange pond, unleashing chaos, and so her family must reunite to save their town before it's too late; before closing out the week with an Aussie adult animated Sci-Fi comedy in which a space princess is thrust out of her sheltered life and into a galactic quest to save her bounty hunter ex-girlfriend from the Straight White Maliens.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE LONG WALK' (Rated MA15+) - is an American dystopian horror thriller film Co-Produced and Directed by Francis Lawrence who after years of Directing music videos turned his hand to feature films with his debut in 2005 with 'Constantine', which he would follow up with 'I Am Legend' in 2007, 'Water for Elephants' in 2011, 'The Hunger Games : Catching Fire' in 2013, 'The Hunger Games : Mockingjay - Parts 1 & 2' in 2014 and 2015, 'Red Sparrow' in 2018, 'Slumberland' in 2022 and 'The Hunger Games : The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' in in 2023. This film is based on the 1979 novel by Stephen King (writing under his pseudonym Richard Bachman), and has been in development Hell since 1988 when George A. Romero was first linked to Direct the film adaptation, and since then it has been on again off again as numerous film makers have come and gone, until Lawrence took the helm. 

Here then, set in a dystopian United States ruled by a totalitarian regime, a group of young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive. Starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Mark Hamill, Judy Greer and Josh Hamilton. The film is released Stateside this week too, and early critical reviews have given it a generally positive rating.

'WENT UP THE HILL' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian and New Zealand Co-Production is Co-Written and Directed by Samuel Van Grinsven in his second feature film following 'Sequin in a Blue Room' in 2019. Here, Jack (Dacre Montgomery) returns to his native New Zealand to attend the funeral of his birth mother, from whom he was taken away and placed into foster care. There he meets his mother's widow Jill (Vicky Krieps) for the first time, only for his mother to return in spirit form and inhabit both Jack and Jill, using each of their bodies to speak to the other, and leaving the living to grapple with the destruction she left behind while fighting for their own survival. The film Premiered as a special presentation at last years Toronto International Film Festival in early September 2024, has garnered generally positive critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$36K following a limited US release in mid-August. 

'SPLITSVILLE' (Rated MA15+) - is an American comedy film that is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and also stars Michael Angelo Covino in only his second feature film Directorial outing following 2019's 'The Climb'. When Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), for support. He is shocked to learn that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage - that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at this years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, went on wide release in the US from 5th September having so far grossed US$1.3M and has generated mostly positive critical reviews.

'DOWNTON ABBEY : THE GRAND FINALE' (Rated PG) - this British historical drama film set in the late 1920's is Directed by Simon Curtis and is based on the hugely popular television series written by Julian Fellows which ran for fifty-two episodes over six series between 2010 and 2015. This film is the third and final film in the cinema franchise which launched in 2019 with 'Downton Abbey' and then 'Downton Abbey : A New Era' in 2022. Here then, we follow the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930's. When Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal caused by her divorce and the family faces financial challenges, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepare for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Elizabeth McGovern, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Simon Russell Beale, Paul Giamatti, Alessandro Nivola and Joely Richardson. 

'SKETCH' (Rated PG) - is an American fantasy comedy film Written and Directed by Seth Worley in his full length feature film making debut. When a young school girl Amber (Bianca Belle) sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life - unpredictable, chaotic, and dangerously real. As the town unravels, she and her brother Jack (Kue Lawrence) must track down the creatures before they leave permanent damage. Their father Taylor (Tony Hale), racing to find them through the fallout, must navigate a town in crisis to reunite his family and stop the disaster they never meant to unleash. The film was released Stateside in early August, has so far grossed US$8M from a US$3M production budget and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews. 

'LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian adult animated Sci-Fi comedy film is Written and Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese in the feature film making debuts. Here, an anxious and introverted space princess Saira (voiced by Shabana Azeez), who has thus far led a sheltered life, launches into a galactic quest to save her ex-girlfriend Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), a bounty hunter, from the 'Straight White Maliens' (Aunty Donna - an Australian surrealist comedy group consisting Mark Bonanno, Zachary Ruane and Broden Kelly). A runaway gay-pop idol named Willow (Gemma Chua-Tran) joins her as she encounters dangerous maniacs wielding blades, 'gloom goo', and other hazards, as well as 'the scariest thing of all' – her own self-doubt. Also starring the voice work of Richard Roxburgh. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February this year where the film won the Teddy Award (an international film award for films with LGBT topics).

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

'THE WAY BACK' - archive from 18th March 2011.

I saw 'THE WAY BACK' this week - the true story of a mixed bag of seven POW's who escape from a Siberian Gulag and hot foot it 4,000 miles to freedom across Russia, Mongolia, China, Nepal, Tibet & into India in 1941/2/3. A solid result from occasional Director Peter Weir who also Produced and wrote the Screenplay based on the book 'The Long Walk' by Slawomir Rawicz. Made for US$30M this film struggled to make back US$21M but generally it received positive reviews and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Make-Up, and all up garnered two award wins and five other nominations.

The story kicks off after the Soviet invasion of Poland during WWII where Polish Officer Janusz Wieszczek (Jim Sturgess) is held as a Prisoner of War and interrogated by The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD) and is subsequently sentenced to serve twenty years in a Gulag labour camp in deepest, darkest, remotest, bloody cold Siberia.

Once transported and interned into his new home for the next two decades Janusz is introduced to his new living companions with whom he will hatch his plan for escape. This motley crew comprise Mr. Smith (Ed Harris), an American engineer; Khabarov (Mark Strong), an actor; Valka (Colin Farrell), a hardened Russian criminal; Tomasz (Alexandru Potocean), a Polish artist; Voss (Gustaf Skarsgard), a Latvian man of the cloth; Kazik (Sebastian Urzendowsky), a Pole suffering from night blindness; and Zoran (Dragoş Bucur), a Yugoslavian number cruncher.

Following some planning the crew take their leave under cover of darkness and a snow storm with which their tracks are covered. After a set back or two early on in the piece, en route to Lake Balkal they meet Irena Zielinska (Saoirse Ronan) who spins the men a yarn about Russian soldiers murdering her parents in order to gain favour, and convince the escapees to allow her to join them. Mr. Smith however, pretty quickly wises up to Irene's rouse and cautions her that they will accept no nonsense and as soon ditch her for their own safety and freedom.

From here they continue on to the border between the Soviet Union and Mongolia and then onto Ulan Bator before heading south across the Gobi Desert where they are plagued by diminishing water supplies, sandstorms, blistering heat, sunburn and sunstroke to which Irene ultimately succumbs. As the reduced group continue on their trek for freedom dwindling health drag the remaining group down until a source of water is found to refresh and rehydrate them.

Reaching the Himalayas again on the verge of death, a Tibetan Monk comes to their rescue and leads them to a Buddhist Monastery where they regain their strength and their resolve. From there Mr. Smith goes on alone to Tibet where he can then be smuggled out through China where he can establish contact with US Military authorities and from there back to America.The others continue through the Himalayas and into India.

This is a film of courage over adversity, determination of the human spirit, and unwavering strength and resolve underpinned with fine performances from the principle cast and of course some breathtaking scenery en route! This is worth hunting out now on DVD, BluRay or download especially given that the film is grounded in fact albeit perhaps embellished by poetic license across the years following the long walk. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-