Cinema from the Spectrum

It’s easy enough to recognize Mike Flanagan’s name for being associated with the horror genre, so it only makes sense that his past few films would be adapted from the works of the great Stephen King. But Flanagan’s film adaptations of King’s work stand apart from all the rest, in that they offer a perfect translation of such literary psychology that only makes his approach to such stories feel so deeply unnerving. Yet The Life of Chuck marks a change in pace for Flanagan, for it’s not a film based on one of Stephen King’s horror stories – but there’s still a great deal of existential dread felt from start to finish. The end result is very deeply moving.

What stands out most about The Life of Chuck is the peculiar structuring of the film. The film is told in the usual three-act structure, yet instead we’re starting with Act Three, and working backwards from there. But the core of The Life of Chuck is a very simple one at that, it’s a story about Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), and the many people whose lives he had touched. As the film opens, it feels like the world is about to end, as Chuck is being mourned by people he knew – including Felicia (Karen Gillan) and Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor). But as we work backwards through this story, we find that there’s a whole lot more to Chuck’s own story that made him such a mystifying figure.

The Life of Chuck isn’t a horror film as one would expect from that combination of both Mike Flanagan and Stephen King. Instead, what this film presupposes is a tale on life and death, and ultimately how a single person’s impact can change the world almost entirely for everyone around yourself. Which might as well be what makes The Life of Chuck the most optimistic film in Mike Flanagan’s body of work to date. It’s optimistic in the sense that this is a movie whose outlook on life is one that feels very positive, even with the grandiose first act feeling so apocalyptic – which might as well be how Stephen King sees the impact of losing a friend that you’ve known at least briefly.

Much of the film is built around that feeling of loss. But it’s also built around the idea that as we go through Chuck’s life backwards, from death to his own childhood, we’re seeing a man who simply wants to live to the best of what he can. And in doing so, what comes forth in The Life of Chuck is a tale about a man trying to catch up with all those missed opportunities in his own adult life – and it results in a career best performance from Tom Hiddleston. Every minute he’s on screen beams with so much life and a great deal of love for the people around himself, and it’s a feeling of optimism that one can only find themselves being so willing to share. It’s always very beautiful, even though it might be very offbeat, but that love for life and trying to do the best while the window of time may be so small is very deeply inspiring.

But perhaps while Mike Flanagan adapts the prose of Stephen King to the screen, all the way down to a literary narration being provided by Nick Offerman, it only captures his own worldview with relative ease. Although Stephen King might be more well-known for his horror stories, he’s always had a great love for the people around himself and wanted them to live nothing but their very best lives, especially while they have that opportunity in them. It’s also why the peculiar structuring of The Life of Chuck ends up working in its favour, because it’s a movie all about how that love, if spread within the right spots might just as well have enough of an impact to change the lives of everyone else. Chuck’s presence can always be felt, especially in moments where he’s not around – but for Stephen King, it was a means of telling readers and for Mike Flanagan to show viewers that there’s always more to look out for no matter what happens next.

From the unassuming title, The Life of Chuck is very much a movie about an ordinary person. But that also might very well be where the magic comes right from underneath. This is a movie all about how an ordinary life can have an extraordinary impact on everyone else, and Mike Flanagan beautifully conveys how Chuck could be just about anyone. That might as well be why it lands so beautifully, especially as the beginning (or end of the story, so to speak) starts in a very grandiose manner. As it’s all recontextualized, it just leaves you with the feeling that there’s always another opportunity to make something of your own life.

Watch the trailer right here.

All images via Neon.

Directed by Mike Flanagan
Screenplay by Mike Flanagan, based on the novella by Stephen King
Produced by Mike Flanagan, Trevor Macy
Starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay
Premiere Date: September 6, 2024
Running Time: 110 minutes