The Life of Chuck, written and directed by Mike Flanagan, opens on Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in the middle of teaching a class when the internet suddenly goes out. The disruption is only the beginning of a bigger problem, foreshadowing that the world is coming to an end. Around town, Marty encounters curious billboards that display, “Charles Krantz, 39 Great Years! Thanks Chuck!” with a photo of Chuck (Tom Hiddleston). The apocalypse also has Marty bumping into different townsfolk and reflecting on the meaning of life. It also leads Felicia Gordon (Karen Gillan), a doctor and Marty’s ex-wife, to reach out and reminisce with Marty, and the two reconnect right until the very end of the world.
We then meet Chuck, an accountant by trade, on a business trip. He sits on a bench and reads the paper in the town plaza, where a drummer (Taylor Gordon) is busking. As he walks and drops money into a hat, Chuck begins to dance. This causes Jannice (Annalise Basso), who’s reeling from a recent heartbreak, to join in. The trio gives a fun performance to the gathering crowd. The newfound friends then go out for drinks to get to know each other. Chuck is asked what caused him to stop and dance, to which he gives a vague answer.
The film then focuses on a younger Chuck (Benjamin Pajak), who has recently been orphaned, as he goes to live with his grandparents, Albie (Mark Hamill) and Sarah (Mia Sara). At their house is a mysterious cupola that is locked. Through Sarah, Chuck learns to love various types of dance. There is also a dance class at school where he excels and impresses not only his teacher, Miss Rohrbacher (Samantha Sloyan), but also catches the eye of an older girl named Cat McCoy (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss).
Tom Hiddleston from The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan’s 2025 Stephen King adaptation.
“…Chuck begins to dance. This causes Jannice, who’s reeling from a recent heartbreak, to join in.”
The Life of Chuck is told backward. As such, it may take a while to understand what’s going on. Nick Offerman narrates to help add cohesiveness for viewers. As a fan of Mike Flanagan’s and knowing it is a Stephen King adaptation, I didn’t mind the setup. Flanagan adapted Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, to mixed reviews, partially because he took some liberties from the book. This feels more like Gerald’s Game and is well-executed. The film is really a cleverly delivered reflection on one’s life. Everything at the beginning is subtly explained by the end.
Although Hiddleston is billed and appears to be the main star, the scene stealer really is Pajak. There is a coming-of-age aspect to the stork, and Pajak’s performance is the heart of the film. Hamill, as the grandfather, shakes off his younger image of Luke Skywalker and is almost unrecognizable. Sara also delivers an outstanding performance, passing on her love for dance and showcasing her dance moves.
Flanagan keeps the intrigue up not only through the mystery of who Chuck is and what drives him to do what he does but also through the complexity of his motivations. The filmmaker weaves the cupola and what it hides deftly throughout. The payoff is worth it and maintains the themes of everything seen up to that point.
The Life of Chuck takes a moment for its storytelling technique to be fully understood. But the plot offers intrigue, drama, and mystery in one compelling package. Hiddleston and Pajak excel at playing the same character at different points in life, while Hamill loses himself completely in his role. Flanagan is no stranger to Stephen King’s work, and he has made another worthwhile cinematic adaptation that’s a little lighter than what we typically see from the director.
"…offers intrigue, drama, and mystery in one compelling package."
