THE LIFE OF CHUCK (2025)

Genre: Drama
Director: Mike Flanagan
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 5 June 2025

Synopsis: From the hearts and minds of Stephen King and Mike Flanagan comes THE LIFE OF CHUCK, the extraordinary story of an ordinary man. This unforgettable, genre-bending tale celebrates the life of Charles 'Chuck' Krantz as he experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

Movie Review:

Stephen King isn’t called the “King of Horror” for nothing. His spine-chilling stories have birthed some of the most terrifying films in cinema history - leaving audiences haunted long after the credits roll. Still reeling from the nightmare fuel that is Pennywise the clown, brought to life with eerie brilliance by Bill Skarsgård in It (2017) and its 2019 sequel? The blood-soaked prom scene from Carrie (1976), where pig’s blood rains down on a stunned Sissy Spacek, remains one of horror’s most unforgettable images. And who can forget that chilling moment in The Shining (1980), when Jack Nicholson’s deranged Jack Torrance peers through a splintered door and snarls, “Here’s Johnny!”?

But the bestselling author doesn’t just deliver nightmares - he’s also behind some of the most touching and emotionally resonant stories ever brought to screen. Films like Stand by Me (1986) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) prove that King’s storytelling can be just as heartwarming as it is haunting. Now, joining this celebrated lineage is The Life of Chuck, a new drama adapted from his novella of the same name, originally published in his 2020 collection If It Bleeds.

Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, this 111-minute film unfolds in reverse chronology - an intriguing storytelling choice that pays off. It opens with the cryptic title card “Act Three: Thanks, Chuck,” immediately pulling viewers into its mystery. The narrative centers on a middle school teacher (a charismatic Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his ex-wife (Karen Gillan, nearly unrecognisable from her Guardians of the Galaxy days), a hospital nurse. As the world quite literally falls apart around them as global natural disasters wreck homes universally, it becomes clear that the apocalypse is at hand.

In this dialogue-heavy act, the former couple reconnects amidst a surreal backdrop: mysterious billboards and ads plastered with the message “Charles Krantz: 39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!” start appearing everywhere. Accompanying the slogan is a smiling Tom Hiddleston, presumably the enigmatic Chuck. But who is he really, and what exactly is going on? The suspense is compelling, even as the plot moves at a deliberate pace.

Delving into the chapters titled “Act Two: Buskers Forever” and “Act One: I Contain Multitudes” would risk spoiling the quiet magic of watching this story unfold on the big screen. As each chapter reveals fragments of the puzzle, you find yourself slowly connecting the dots - drawn deeper into its lyrical, layered storytelling.

Without giving too much away, Act Two features one of the most enchanting sequences in recent memory: Hiddleston and Annalise Basso, complete strangers, dance freely to the infectious rhythms of a street drummer in the middle of a suburban mall. It’s a spontaneous, joy-filled moment - one that seems to arise out of nowhere, yet hints at something greater. Perhaps life is made up of moments like these: fleeting, unexplainable, and profoundly meaningful in ways we only sense, not see.

Familiar faces pop up throughout the film: Mark Hamill appears as Chuck’s grandfather, Jacob Tremblay portrays a teenage Chuck, and Nick Offerman lends his signature wit as the offscreen narrator. At the helm is Mike Flanagan, no stranger to Stephen King’s universe - having previously directed Gerald’s Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019). He’s also the creative force behind acclaimed horror series like The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020). With this latest work, Flanagan steps gracefully beyond horror, weaving together sweetness, mystery, and quiet reflection into a bittersweet and enthralling cinematic experience.

Movie Rating:

(A poignant blend of wonder, intrigue and emotional depth that captivates with its quiet power)

Review by John Li