The Life of Chuck
Director: Mike Flanagan
Writer: Mike Flanagan
Based on: Stephen King’s short story
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, David Dastmalchian, Harvey Guillén, Michael Trucco, Q’orianka Kilcher, Matthew Lillard, Rahul Kohli, Violet McGraw, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, The Pocket Queen, Annalise Basso, Kate Siegel, Nick Offerman, Carla Gugino
Seen on: 26.7.2025

Plot:
Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a teacher in a small town, desperately trying to hold things together in a world that is quite literally falling apart. California is sinking into the ocean, TV and internet stop working an even roads start to crumble. The only constant seems to be a rather strange ad, thanking Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) for wonderful 39 years that seems to pop up everywhere. In the confusion Marty is looking to reconnect with his ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillam) because why not go through the end of the world together?

I knew very little about The Life of Chuck going in, and I would absolutely recommend that approach. Just be reassured that this is not a horror film (despite Flanagan and King), but a truly emotional film for all audiences, and one of the most positive films I can think of recently.

I think what struck me most about The Life of Chuck is that it is a film without cynicism. It’s a film all about how people matter, how everybody matters and how every small thing matters. We might just be a speck of dust in the cosmic calendar, but we are also our own universes. In that sense, Life of Chuck reminded me of Everything Everywhere All at Once, and I don’t know if two movies in a few years can already be considered a trend, but please, let us make it a trend.

The first part of the film really had me guessing what is, in fact, happening, but as the plot slowly unfolds everything and I could start to guess, explanations became less and less important. It is all about the emotional journey the film puts you through, and it is a beautiful journey that is bound to make you cry.

Anchored by beautiful performances all around in a star-studded cast that could feel gimmicky but always feel just perfectly chosen for their roles, Flanagan and the cast unfold an emotional tapestry that belies the knee-jerk assumption that positivity, hope, belief is something naive or simple. It also keeps the film from feeling superficial, because even if the message is simple on the surface, there is always depth that gives it truth. It’s probably Flanagan’s best work to date overall – and I say that as a fan of his series, especially The Haunting of Hill House (and, without having seen most of his films, I feel confident saying that is his best film for sure).

The Life of Chuck is certainly an experience, an emotional ride, a life lesson in sense and a soothing antidote to the hectic, optimized for efficiency daily routine that has overtaken so much of our lives. I loved it.

Summarizing: yes, yes, yes.