This review was originally published on September 9, 2024, as a part of our Toronto International Film Festival coverage.
The Life of Chuck is a departure for Mike Flanagan, who’s brought us memorable horror projects like The Haunting of Hill House over the years. We’ve become accustomed to certain things thanks to the writer-director’s Netflix slate, but The Life of Chuck, adapted from the novella by Stephen King, subverts those expectations. With this delightful and moving drama fantasy, Flanagan pulls us into a world anchored by the life of the тιтular character. The film is poignant and meaningful, with an appreciation for life that reminds us why we live it and how to enjoy it as well.
The film wears its heart on its sleeve, and Chuck himself is relatable, making his journey all the more wonderful and sad. The Life of Chuck is split into three acts and starts at the end. Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a divorced teacher who’s startled when he begins noticing billboards thanking Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) for 39 great years. His ex-wife, Felicia (Karen Gillan), a nurse, is equally perplexed. They’re even more weirded out when odd things — like projections of Chuck in windows and hospital monitors beeping without anyone hooked to them — start happening around town.
The Life Of Chuck Is An Emotional Rollercoaster
The Film Blends Genres To Deliver Its Message
Flanagan teases us about the end of the world, but there’s something else going on. The fact that The Life of Chuck starts at the end instead of the beginning is crucial to the story. It leaves us mystified by what’s going on and wanting to know more about this elusive Chuck. Considering the тιтle of the film, you can guess who the main character ultimately is, and the drama, narrated by Nick Offerman, slowly unfolds to give us the details of Chuck’s life. There’s even a joyous dance sequence with Hiddleston and Annalise Bᴀsso that boosts the film’s fun.
At various points, characters spout philosophical ideas about the cosmos and math as Chuck’s place in the world reminds us about how small and big the universe can feel at once. It also factors Chuck’s place in it. As Chuck can be a stand-in for the audience, Flanagan’s script is structured so that we feel a variety of emotions at once. The Life of Chuck oscillates between being earnest, dark, and sweet, though it never loses sight of what it’s trying to say. We’re enamored with Chuck’s dancing, worry about him after tragedy strikes, and ponder about his choices.
Flanagan keeps things entertaining, sprinkling the film with some funny lines and moments. The writer-director happily blends genres — sci-fi and horror-esque elements are littered throughout — which makes for a whimsical viewing experience. Questions about the universe give the narrative a monumental profoundness that left me thinking about it hours later. Over the next two acts, The Life of Chuck leans into the drama, weaving through Chuck’s life the way our thoughts so often form — focused and scattered. This is what gives the film its charm, especially as Chuck goes from a straight-laced accountant to an engaging dancer.
The Life of Chuck oscillates between being earnest, dark, and sweet, though it never loses sight of what it’s trying to say.
By starting at the end, The Life of Chuck allows us to appreciate what came before. It’s a creative way to ease us into the scariest part of the story and invest us in its overall themes. The film is worth a rewatch to uncover the many details it hides in plain sight, but that we miss because we’re looking at the bigger picture. Flanagan somehow manages to balance the realities of death with the euphoria of life. Everything comes crashing down, but there’s also an enveloping sense of peace.
The Life Of Chuck Is Elevated By An Excellent Cast
With so many story threads, the director boosts his film with the help of a great cast, a mixture of actors who are Flanagan staples (Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, and Samantha Sloyan) and veteran actors like Mark Hamill, who plays Chuck’s grandpa Albie. They each bring something memorable to the table, though I found myself drawn mostly to Ejiofor and Gillan, who get a couple of touching moments. Hamill is great as Albie, grouchy and affectionate, and Hiddleston infuses Chuck with wonder and melancholy. As younger versions of Chuck, Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak are charismatic and full of life.
Together with the performances, Flanagan’s adaptation takes on a life of its own. It’s sentimental in the best ways and lighthearted despite a grim core. The Life of Chuck asks us to wash away the fear and sadness so often felt with death, and reminds us to find the joy in life, even when it’s at its most chaotic. While the film can be a touch slow at times, it fully embraces its sweet, tender side. Heartfelt and often sage, Flanagan encapsulates the experience of life and gives it a boost of meaning and fantastically fun energy.
The Life of Chuck premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and is now playing in theaters.
