Mike Flanagan, known for his successful adaptations of Stephen King’s works like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, takes on a new challenge with The Life of Chuck. This film adaptation of King’s novella, which appeared in his 2020 collection If It Bleeds, unfolds in reverse chronological order and explores a hopeful perspective on the end of days. Flanagan, inspired by the novella’s message of cherishing moments amid adversity, premiered the film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film opens with a dystopian world ravaged by natural and man-made disasters, including a massive California earthquake and widespread flooding. Amid this chaos, a schoolteacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his ex-wife (Karen Gillan) grapple with the sudden proliferation of billboards and ads celebrating the life of Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston).
As the narrative moves backward, it reveals Krantz as a bank employee who unexpectedly bursts into a choreographed dance sequence with Annalise Basso, a scene both captivating and incongruous. The film’s first act, portraying Krantz’s childhood with his grandparents (Mia Sara and Mark Hamill), lacks the emotional depth of the later segments. Flanagan’s attempt to blend eerie atmosphere with satire yields mixed results. While the film delivers a poignant message, it struggles with tonal inconsistencies, leaving it feeling ephemeral compared to Flanagan’s more compelling ghost stories.
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