Mike Flanagan’s glorious The Life of Chuck is a soulful, genre-bending triumph—an existential fantasy wrapped in warmth, whimsy, and wonder. Adapted from Stephen King’s novella, the film unfolds in reverse across three acts, tracing the life of Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston, Loki, Crimson Peak) from his death, coinciding with the end of the universe, back to his childhood. Each chapter reveals a different facet of Chuck’s quiet brilliance, from a spontaneous street dance that becomes a cosmic celebration, to tender moments with his grandparents in a possibly haunted home.
Hiddleston delivers a career-highlight performance, radiating charm and melancholy. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy) bring emotional depth as a divorced couple reconnecting amid apocalyptic collapse. Flanagan’s direction is lyrical and theatrical, with a haunting score by The Newton Brothers and poetic narration by Nick Offerman.
The film has received numerous awards and won over critics and audiences alike for its originality and emotional resonance. Themes of memory, mortality, and the multitudes within us echo throughout. If you were moved by The Shawshank Redemption or enchanted by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, then The Life of Chuck may be for you. It is an utter original and entertaining joy that will leave you dancing through tears.
