The Life of Chuck

Watching The Life of Chuck feels like reading a farewell letter written in dim light, the pages filled with layers of hope, sorrow, and a nearly unexpected kind of euphoria. Mike Flanagan, long renowned for his Stephen King adaptations, takes a bold step away from horror to embrace a contemplative drama—and he does so with sensitivity and emotional precision. The narrative structure here isn’t just non-linear: it’s an inverted spiral that begins with the end of the world and takes us backwards through Chuck Krantz’s life, all the way to his childhood.

This reverse structure unfolds in three acts. The opening, set in an apocalyptic world, features Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan as a couple trying to make sense of a collapsing society, while mysterious billboards thank someone named Chuck for his 39 years of service. The visual translation of this catastrophe, without relying on King’s usual horror tropes, serves both as atmospheric contrast and cryptic question—who is Chuck, and why is the world grateful?

The second act introduces us to adult Chuck—played with delicate depth by Tom Hiddleston—as he processes a terminal brain tumor with both humor and a quiet, contained desperation. Here, we’re given one of the film’s most disarming sequences: a dance number between Hiddleston and Annalise Basso that bursts with an unfiltered, spontaneous joy. It’s a moment that lights up the film’s emotional core, proving that a single beautiful gesture can eclipse impending tragedy.

We then arrive at Chuck’s childhood, portrayed with aching sensitivity by Benjamin Pajak and Jacob Tremblay. Pajak, especially, carries an eerie depth—his eyes reflect a world-weariness far beyond his years. It’s in these quieter moments, in a family kitchen or on a school stage, that the film finds its heartbeat: Chuck is an ordinary man whose small moments ripple into something vast and deeply human.

The performances are, undoubtedly, the film’s anchor. Hiddleston strips away the smirk and irony of Loki, revealing a gentler, more transparent humanity. Ejiofor is restrained but potent, and Gillan strikes a compelling balance between tenderness and confusion. But it’s Mark Hamill, as Chuck’s grandfather, who offers the film’s emotional linchpin: a broken man who still believes life has meaning and passes that on to his grandson.

Flanagan abandons horror’s typical language—tight frames, creeping suspense—in favor of a freer, almost documentary aesthetic. The camera roams, capturing gestures in real time, while the editing allows for internal rhythms and unscripted moments. There’s a remarkable focus on natural light and breathing spaces—each shot feels like a held breath, whether it’s in a bustling hallway or a crumbling street.

Among the film’s strongest points is its tonal risk. Holding together drama, fantasy, and a dash of sci-fi without tipping into saccharine sentimentality is a fine line, and Flanagan manages it with emotional honesty. Walt Whitman’s line “I contain multitudes” becomes the film’s spiritual spine: we are layered, contradictory beings, filled with memories, regrets, and flickers of joy.

That said, the film isn’t flawless. Some may find the pacing uneven—particularly in the third act, where the childhood scenes, although moving, might feel disconnected if the viewer isn’t fully immersed in the inverted narrative arc. This shift can break the emotional build-up. Also, the backwards structure demands active engagement, which may challenge those expecting a more conventional emotional journey.

Even so, The Life of Chuck is a film that lingers. Its structure invites rewatching, rethinking—and maybe that’s its true power: it reveals new meanings upon each return. It’s a philosophical drama in the clothes of speculative fiction, a mirror for the audience to reflect on their own “multitudes.”

As you leave the theater, one thing becomes clear: Chuck Krantz isn’t just a man being thanked on anonymous billboards. He’s every one of us, fragmented, complex, sometimes confused—but always deeply, almost surprisingly, beautiful in our existence. And spending 110 minutes in that presence feels like a gift.



The Life of Chuck (2024 / United States)
Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Written by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill
Running time: 110 min.