Review: “‘The Long Walk:’ A Trinity College Drama”

Hannah Smith ’26

Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor

I’m sure you’ve seen trailers for the upcoming film “The Long Walk” all over your socials. You’ve probably heard that it’s a Stephen King adaptation about a group of teens who are participating in a contest in which you are forced into walking for miles and miles on end without stopping or you’ll be shot and killed by the military. Maybe you’ve even seen the special screenings where theaters take out all of the reclining seats in the auditoriums and replace them with treadmills for audience members to walk alongside the characters for the entirety of the film.

Well, I’m afraid you’ve fallen victim to a scam we in the industry like to call “being catfished.” In reality, the film is a thriller drama set at Trinity College, in particular, the Long Walk. The film follows a group of freshmen students on their epic journey from their dorms all the way to Vernon Street on their first excursion out to the frats. Along their way, they run into such obstacles as Campus Safety officers asking a few too many questions, having to hide their White Claws in their back pockets and simply trying to find where the frat houses are without pulling out a campus map because that would be pathetic. The main character, Ethan (Timothee Chalamet), leads the way with his confidence and “level 10 aura” since he’s actually a legacy student, so he knows what he’s doing guys, don’t even worry about it. The students are portrayed by many of the renowned child stars who played high schoolers late into their 30s, including most of the cast of “Euphoria.” Now that they’re in their 40s, they’ve moved up to playing college students.

An extra layer of anxiety is added to the film because Ethan is hoping to be recruited by a fraternity in the fall, so he has to find that sweet spot where he isn’t too drunk that he makes a fool of himself and ruins his chances of ever becoming a member of Alpha Delta Phi and just drunk enough that he doesn’t seem lame in front of his future brothers.

“The Long Walk” had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It felt so real and raw, it took me back to my freshman year. The young actors playing the students truly encapsulated what it’s like to be a freshman. I could see the tension and the angst in their eyes. Don’t be surprised if the actor playing Ethan receives some Oscar buzz for his role. My only gripe is that everyone stepped on the plaque like it was nothing! They’re not going to graduate if they keep that up. Someone needs to tell them. But other than that, I have zero complaints. I’ll be thinking about this film for a long time and it is certainly one that will stick with you. Be careful next time you make your way…to the Long Walk.