Category: Paige Sanders

The Long Walk

By: Paige Sanders

The Long Walk. This movie was released in theaters on September 12th, 2025. This was an adaptation of the novel, which was written by Steven King. King is famous for his disturbingly hooking pieces of literature that have ruled over the horror genre. Then, his novels took over the film world, converting many works into some of the most well-known movies, such as Carrie and It. So it was not a surprise to me when I heard The Long Walk was in the works. The director, Francis Lawrence, gave his own flair to the movie with Steven King behind him, changing some things from the original book for more accuracy. Working together helped the movie overall become so successful. So, without further ado, let’s get into a full analysis of The Long Walk. 

I walked into the theater with really high expectations for this movie since the trailer was done exceptionally well. I have to say that this movie exceeded my expectations. All great movies need a great trailer; however, a great trailer is hard to make. You have to give subtle suspense throughout it, not revealing too much, but also not leaving the audience confused. Every detail matters, from the sounds to the sequence of the clips. Overall, this trailer has been one of the most well-done ones I have seen. Then we got to the box office. The story is set in an authoritarian society where the military is in charge. Every year, a voluntary contest is hosted where you walk until you are the last one left. People are encouraged to volunteer for this due to the state that America is currently in, making it a yearly occurrence. We follow the main character, Raymond Garraty, on his journey in The Long Walk. The movie explores the themes of brotherhood and human perseverance. We see Garraty and his comrades fall into a pit of insanity as they watch the suffering around them. They cannot stop walking, and if they fall below the speed of 3 miles per hour, they receive their first of three warnings. Walking, walking, warning, walking. The cycle they are forced to endure. Reality is hit with every shot. Garraty watches his friends slowly turn to death, giving up. The movie’s pacing allows a viewer to follow along easily, with the cinematography done extraordinarily well. The movie ends with the last one standing, but I won’t spoil that for you. This is the most emotional movie I have ever seen; the characters were developed so well that you felt like you knew them, leaving you with a pit in your stomach when the third warning sounded. The ending was amazing, emphasizing the final words. Overall, this movie was a ten out of ten. I am excited to see more Steven King novel adaptations in the future.

Tornado Outbreak

By: Paige Sanders

Between March 13th and 16th, 2025, an omnipresent tornado outbreak affected the Midwest and the East. There were 114 tornados across 8 states that rained terror in multiple towns. This is enough to classify it as a “historic outbreak.” 

It all started on March 13th when an extreme weather warning was issued for areas in the Midwest. On March 14th, multiple tornadoes touched down. Ranging from EF2 to EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The next 2 days were a living nightmare for the towns that were issued  warnings. By March 16th, 43 people were to be presumed dead from these unpredictable storms. 

America is estimated to have 1,200 tornadoes per year, the majority of them happening in the Midwest, which has become a tornado brewing ground. Due to the wide fields, warm winds being blown in from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold winds battling them from the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest has been the perfect place for a tornado to form. This has given states in the Midwest the nickname “Tornado Alley”.This tornado outbreak in particular was said to be caused by climate change, the Gulf of Mexico has been gradually warming up creating the winds that have been the cause of these “supercell” storms. Scientists believe that outbreaks like these could become more frequent if we don’t stop these rising temperatures. In order to prevent these supercell storms, we need to fight the climate change battle before it becomes irreversible. 

Mental Health Awareness

By: Paige Sanders

Millions of people around the world struggle with mental health challenges. 720,000 of those people turn to suicide as a result. This is a sad yet harsh reality we need to face. It’s a topic that many find difficult to discuss—but silence will only deepen the stigma. Bringing more awareness towards suicide, creates a culture of support and understanding. 

 We need to recognize the early signs of someone who is planning to commit suicide before it happens. These signs include: withdrawal from social life, giving away items that had meaning to them, trouble sleeping, and increased substance use like alcohol or tobacco. Noticing these signs and reaching out to someone could prevent their death. Encouraging open conversations about suicide could help someone who is struggling internally, seek the help they need.

Suicide is often a result of people feeling isolated and untreated for their mental health. 80% being men, 20% being women. The percentage for men is so high because our society has created an environment where men feel “weak” when voicing mental health issues. This cannot continue to be normalized. Asking for help should be emphasized as a sign of strength, not weakness. Crisis hotlines, mental health professionals, and support groups are readily available to anyone seeking a voice to talk to. This is why education about suicide and support are crucial. 

If you know someone struggling, encourage them to reach out for help. Talking to someone can save a life. Let’s replace silence with support.