Francis Lawrence’s interpretation of Stephen King’s celebrated novel The Long Walk takes various narrative liberties compared to the original text, resulting in an ending that is even more impactful than King’s initial conclusion. Featuring performances by Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, The Long Walk depicts a bleak future where young men engage in a brutal competition to the death, driven by the promise of money and a single wish.
The barren landscape of America depicted in The Long Walk has fostered a culture steeped in desperation and economic instability, which fuels the motivation of the 50 boys taking part in the Long Walk. Consequently, the race creates a contradictory situation where each participant’s success hinges on outlasting their fellow competitors, yet the support from those very competitors is crucial for enduring longer.
In Stephen King’s initial conclusion, the main character, Ray Garraty, survives longer than all others to claim victory in the contest. However, as he nears death and begins to hallucinate, he suddenly sprints after a shadowy figure.
The Long Walk presents a surprising twist at the end, showcasing Ray (Hoffman) and Pete (Jonsson) as the last two competitors. This divergence from the original narrative resulted in an even more compelling conclusion than what was initially penned.
The Conclusion of The Long Walk Is Entirely Deserved
In the conclusion of the film, both Ray and Pete strive to give up their own lives for the sake of the other’s victory, showcasing the profound connection they forged throughout the Long Walk. Although Ray emerges as the victor in the book, he ultimately chooses to sacrifice himself in the film, allowing Pete to claim the win.
It’s an impressive turn of events that could have easily misfired, yet Lawrence executes it flawlessly due to the well-deserved conclusion. This isn’t a superficial twist designed to mislead the readers of the novel for mere shock value.
Instead, it serves as a logical and organic culmination of the authentic bond that developed between Ray and Pete throughout the Walk. Throughout the Walk, we discover that even with a harsh and sorrowful past, Pete is truly a good individual who sees the beauty in life when he could easily be filled with bitterness, anger, and cynicism.
Ray, too, possesses goodness, yet he is fueled by a desire for revenge against the corrupt overseer of the contest, referred to simply as the Major (Mark Hamill). Pete finds himself alone in life, whereas Ray has a mother he aspires to support with the earnings from the Long Walk.
In an effort to let Ray win, Pete tries to sit down, but Ray insists on pulling him up and urging him onward. When Ray halts his steps, he is swiftly killed, delivering a shocking moment for readers of the novel. Ray understands that he would not have reached this point without Pete, who has literally supported him during his toughest times.
He believes that Pete will use the money to help others, and he truly deserves it due to the sincerity of his intentions. Although Ray’s choice is deeply emotional, it aligns perfectly with the discussions they shared throughout the film.
The conclusion resonates even more profoundly than King’s initial ending, as it preserves the horror and tragedy of the contest while adding greater emotional depth to the bond between Ray and Pete.
In the book, Pete doesn’t even reach the final two, but the film grants them a remarkably impactful final exchange before the contest concludes, demonstrating that their humanity remains intact despite the contest’s challenges.
Pete’s Killing of The Major Is Entirely Logical
A notable difference from the novel occurs when Pete is declared the winner. Having achieved victory, Pete makes his wish in the same manner that Ray had initially planned. As the contest’s overseer and a pivotal player in America’s terrifying post-war regime, the Major stands as one of the most powerful individuals in the nation.
Ray planned to assassinate the Major as a form of retribution for the Major’s killing of his father, who had boldly stood against the new regime and had educated Ray with prohibited texts and ideologies. Conversely, Pete understands that eliminating the Major might serve as a powerful symbol of resistance, potentially liberating the nation from the chains of despair and destitution.
In honor of Ray, and as the most profound way to help others as he envisioned, Pete takes the Major’s life without hesitation, effectively bringing the Long Walk to a close and putting an end to the Major’s tyranny. At first glance, this action appears to contradict Pete’s character, which typically cherishes beauty and tranquility.
However, in truth, it is a wholly instinctive response considering the deep impact the Long Walk had on him. While the majority of the other 49 competitors succumbed to the physical strain inflicted by the Walk, Pete remained unbroken.
Yet, it was the emotional burden of witnessing his friends pushed to their limits and ultimately slaughtered that truly shattered him, with Ray’s heartbreaking death being the tipping point.
Pete’s victory and the elimination of the Major in Ray’s memory, along with the effort to conclude the contest, surpasses Stephen King’s original chilling finale of The Long Walk. The profound emotional resonance of this ending, developed throughout the film’s storyline, elevates it to heights that even King’s conclusion did not achieve.