Notable for helming horror projects such as Hush, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, and so much more, writer-director Mike Flanagan weaves a wholesome story with The Life of Chuck. The film is adapted from Stephen King‘s collection of novellas titled If It Bleeds. The story centers on a man named Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) who is celebrated for “39 great years” of service, but no one seems to know who he is.
Similar to the source material, Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck is told in reverse order; the first act is considered Act Three, and the third act is titled Act One. This narrative structure immediately draws interest and hooks audiences to solve the ongoing mystery of the film. Who is Chuck, and why is he so important?
‘The Life of Chuck’ Features a Star-Studded Cast
Like other directors, Flanagan likes to rework with members of his past projects. The Life of Chuck is no different as previous collaborators Kate Siegel (whom the director is married to), Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Carl Lumbly, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill are featured in this film.
Hamill buries himself in the role of Chuck’s grandfather, embodying it so well that many audiences will feel like he could be one of their own. Tremblay is taken back to his dramatic roots from Room and expertly delivers one of the film’s emotional lines. These actors play such distinct characters, and almost every role is crucial to the story — almost, being the keyword. It is distracting sometimes to see certain celebrities pop up as they’re only used for a short scene that doesn’t necessitate the star power attached.
Karen Gillan and Chiwetel Ejiofor bounce off well with one another, but they aren’t given enough screen time for viewers to fully invest in their characters. After an emotional run as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston shows no signs of slowing down with The Life of Chuck. In arguably the best moment of the film, Hiddleston gives a jaw-dropping performance alongside Annalise Basso and Taylor Gordon. But similarly to Gillan and Ejiofor, the short runtime doesn’t give Hiddleston much time to work.
Mike Flanagan Touches on the Horrors of Existentialism
The Life of Chuck is a unique coming-of-age story with its narrative structure. Presenting the plot in reverse order allows audiences to treat the film as if they’re looking back at their life. Flanagan reminds viewers to find the small joys in life and live them to the fullest. People shouldn’t have to face death or the apocalypse to look back at the best memories of their lives.
With the number of talented stars in the film, the short runtime is frustrating; their scenes only give a small glimpse into their lives and motivations. It’s not enough to justify the film’s theme of how the littlest interactions can impact one’s life. However, that shouldn’t stop Flanagan from continuing to experiment outside of the horror genre. His thriller projects featuring characters going on emotional journeys have shown he’s able to deliver a compelling dramatic story — The Life of Chuck is a decent attempt at focusing on that aspect. Learning from this experience, his next light drama project has the potential to be even greater.
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'The Life of Chuck' Review | TIFF 2024
'The Life of Chuck' Review | TIFF 2024The Good
- Tom Hiddleston manages to surprise with a performance unlike anything he's done before on screen.
- Mike Flanagan proves he can do more than scare audiences.
- The story is very relevant in a post-pandemic world, and tells an important message.
The Bad
- The short runtime doesn't allow other characters and storylines to be fleshed out.
- Some actors are limited to cameo-esque roles instead of meaningful ones.
- Each act feels oddly paced from one another.
