Original caricature by Jeff York of various cast members of THE LIFE OF CHUCK (copyright 2025).
For centuries, people have been trying to ascertain certainties about God, the Universe, and why we’ve all been plopped down here on Planet Earth. Many of those same queries sear through the new film THE LIFE OF CHUCK, just as they did in Stephen King’s mysterious novella from 2020 upon which it is based. Because of such ambitions, the film is a heady piece that will challenge notions of fate, the supernatural, and even ghosts. It’s a film quite open to interpretation, and for certain, a sure conversation starter. (In all fairness, some may find it to be a head-scratcher too.) Ultimately though, the film is a thoughtful and rollicking piece, one that encourages its viewers to spend less time asking unanswerable questions like those posed early in my review, and more time relishing the moments and people that stick with us. I cannot think of a more inspiring film in the last few years as this one boldly urges us to keep trying, keep loving, and keep living as fully as we can.
You may not, however, think that such a message can possibly come through after you’ve experienced the first 30 minutes. Granted, the film lays out a definite mystery for us, one that is more than a bit obtuse. It even starts its three chapter tale by starting with the third chapter and working backwards. But such choices are not pretentious, but rather, deliberate in getting us to question what we’re observing and not settle for easy answers to how the characters on screen may have gotten there. Nonetheless, the final chapter which starts the movie is a doozy, for sure. “Chapter Three” seemingly starts with the Apocalypse. As it lays out, the world is falling apart and rapidly. The internet isn’t just down, it’s out. TV and cell service are starting to fizz out too, and climate change has ravaged the globe so badly that portions of California are literally breaking off of the mainland and falling into the ocean. Thus, people are panicked, suicide rates have skyrocketed, and society is collapsing.
School teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) keeps trying to forge ahead, and set a good example for his depressed students and their equally despondent parents, but even his ex-wife is losing hope. Felicia (Karen Gillan) is a doctor who’s losing the will to try and save lives every day when it all seems so fruitless. It all comes to a head one night when glowing billboards appear everywhere, depicting the photo of a smiling banker named Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) and a caption that reads “39 great years! Thanks, Chuck!”
What do these images mean? And why are they so ubiquitous? Something feels…off about them and it’s both King’s and adapting screenwriter/director Mike Flanagan playing with us a bit to weave a particular spell. It’s one that they want us to ponder and even savor versus everything just being dumped on us in chronological order. It makes for a more intriguing narrative that way, and as the film spools out, you’ll see that it’s not only part mystery, but part character study, part coming-of-age tale, and even a dissertation on the universe as well. The film may take its time, but it is well worth it.
Flanagan is working with a troupe of terrific actors, as is his style if you’re familiar with his Netflix miniseries work (THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, MIDNIGHT MASS, and THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER). Amongst the great performers here are Mark Hamill, Mia Sara (returning to the screen after a 15-year absence), Carl Lumbly, Annalise Basso, and young actor Benjamin Pajak. To tell you any more about Chuck’s life, family and friends, would be to give away too many wonderful surprises, but suffice it to say, the film is a marvel. It’s edgy, thrilling, and moving, with sprinkles of scares, but what would you expect from King and Flanagan?
Don’t worry, nothing here is truly terrifying. There’s far too much dancing in it to be dour. Instead, THE LIFE OF CHUCK is one of 2025’s best and one that will entertain, inspire, and provoke a lot of thoughts and discussions afterward too. So, don’t watch the trailer. Don’t talk to anyone any more about the film. Just see it and you will be engaged, heart, mind and soul.
