10 Scariest Horror Movies Of 2025
4. The Long Walk
Based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, The Long Walk follows a group of teenage boys who must maintain a walking pace of 3mph in a government-sanctioned contest to avoid being executed.
There are no jump-scares, monsters, or conventional killers, and yet The Long Walk is among the tensest films of the year. The instant the competition starts, every character is fighting for their life, knowing only one can survive. When the group is joking and swapping stories, the tanks and armed soldiers in the background serve as a constant reminder of what fate has in store for them.
Each competitor wants to win, but they're shackled by basic needs, like sleep, food, and defecation (which is addressed in a graphically disgusting manner). If anyone wanders off course or suffers a cramp, it can result in their instant demise.
As the story progresses, the characters are fleshed out more, so each of them is seen as a real human being rather than cannon fodder. However, this makes their deaths more hard-hitting, so you never become desensitised to the slaughter.