The Long Walk Christian Review
The Long Walk… just hearing the name evokes an intense and dark atmosphere. Imagine a world where the whole of America has become a police state. And then there is a brutal competition that you may have never heard before… “The Long Walk.”
This competition seems simple – you just have to walk steadily, all the time, without stopping, at a speed of at least 4 miles per hour. But if you take three warnings… then you are permanently out of the race… and from life too. Sounds terrifying, right?
The setting of the story is dystopian future America, where military dictatorship has taken control of everything. Every year there is a lottery in which 100 lucky young boys are selected. And these 100 people become “contestants” who become a part of the national event. Live TV cameras, soldiers escort them and the whole nation is watching who can last for how long.
But… this is not just a physical race. It is also a mental, emotional and spiritual battle. Every boy enters this race with his life story, his dreams, his hopes and his fears. Everyone has the same goal: to get the wish on winning – whatever their heart desires. But when the field slowly ends, the real story comes to the fore – how friendships are made, how betrayals happen, and what is the true nature of man when survival is at stake.
From a Christian perspective, this reminds us that the world system is imperfect. The Bible tells us that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The same darkness dominates in the world of this Long Walk – control, fear, and selfish ambitions. But the real strength that is seen is humility, perseverance, and true love that seeks to uplift rather than kill.
The horror of this race is not just physical; it is an existential horror. Every step is like a prayer – “Lord, let my next step be correct.” Is the light of faith so weak that it cannot shine even in the darkness? Isaiah 40:31 comes to mind – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”
And till the end when only one child is left… the weight of every loss is felt. But a deep truth comes in front – when we face our share of struggle, it is the strength within us that takes us forward.
The Long Walk is brutal, raw, intense… but there is a reminder that reminds all of us – any dark path can be crossed with faith and perseverance.
Perhaps the real message of this film is the same as the story of our life – every step taken in faith is a step away from despair.
