When it comes to Stephen King, modern cinema and TV are feasting, not just on his stories, but on adapting his son's (Joe Hill) work. The latter's vision will see The Black Phone 2 hitting cinemas this year, but with regards to King, The Long Walk is now out. It focuses on a dystopian America trying to recover from war, with young men making a walk in order to win money. It's directed by Francis Lawrence, evoking the director's work on the Hunger Games adaptations -- do anything to survive. Well, Lawrence puts out a gruesome, bloody and gory effort that is every bit as cerebral as it is timely in terms of global politics. 

Lawrence has a crew of young men in this walkathon, with the twist being that once men cannot make the walk anymore, for whatever reason, the militia led by Mark Hamill's Major kills them. Hamill riffs on his time as the animated Joker in Bruce Timm and Paul Dini's DC universe, coming off so sadistic. He's a despot that's into censorship, political violence, genocide and forcing people under the threat of aggression to pledge allegiance to the state. His methods of conditioning and the rebellion he stokes inadvertently may be uncomfortable for America right now, given the current tragic climate.

In terms of revolt, the men making the walk really help ground the movie. The cast is super dynamic and diverse, with Cooper Hoffman (Phillip Seymour's son) as Ray and David Jonsson as Peter helping to rally the guys. Props to the latter who is definitely going to be one of Hollywood's big stars soon after his stint in franchises such as Industry and Alien. They form the core friendship, uniting a brotherhood and making it clear why desperate young men without families can be conditioned and weaponised. All without getting too on the cheek about fragile masculinity, bullying and violence. Lawrence is subtle when need be, but overt at the right time, as the guys develop this punk rock stance, putting aside differences to curse out (literally) the fascists and oppressors making them walk for money and for the cameras. It speaks to exploitation and entertainment in the digital/social media era we live in. As the guys are tempted and then mature to ignore the opportunity to backstab each other, they learn about becoming incorruptible and why standing together and helping each other is punk rock -- a message James Gunn's Superman had. It's most evident in a particular scene fit for Rage Against the Machine and Rise Against fans that includes one walker using a radio to stick it to the army.

In the end, themes such as family, betrayal, fighting the system (fans of Fahrenheit 451 will love these key scenes), and if people should be tempted with the prize of selling out, or with vengeance against the overlords, all come to light. It's relatable given so many nations, from Brazil to France to islands in the Caribbean, wrestle with right-wing politicians and things such as mass murder and broken economies. And if we'll ever get justice for sins and atrocities committed against humanity. I'll admit, maybe one or two characters should have been included more to help create the attempt at nuance at the end regarding the Major's personal life, away from his professional career. This way, the villain wouldn't have felt as thin regarding a certain curveball in the final act.

That aside, Lawrence does well to spread all these messages out in a balance way across the screen to remind us we need more empathy and compassion in the world today. It ends on a very human note, rounding out the many changes from the source material nicely, all while reminding Lawrence fans that he owes us, not just another Hunger Games story, but a Constantine sequel. And, heck, maybe even a Long Walk 2, given the fist-in-the-air ethos that permeates throughout a technically-solid, emotional flick. Ultimately, this flick dials deep into our conscience and consciousness, and while the ending might be frustrating to some, it can be viewed as a cathartic relief to others who, whether they like it or not, will see why sometimes violence is needed to break subjugation, subterfuge and capitalism.