Summer Film Festival - The Life of Chuck

In the latest indie film from studio Neon “The Life of Chuck,” from childhood to adult hood, Charles “Chuck” Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

“The Life of Chuck” is one of those rare films from filmmaker Mike Flanagan that’s not part of the horror genre and Flanagan did a great job giving us an emotional, character-driven story. This Stephen King film adaptation delivers a heart-felt non-linear cinematic experience featuring an astounding cast.

The film’s non-linear approach could be a little confusing at times, especially for those who aren’t familiar with the Stephen King short story (like myself). The short story is also told in non-linear format and that’s one of the many aspects that makes this film rather unique. The non-linear narrative also helps add to the emotional depth of the film.

One thing about the non-linear approach that’s used in both the short story and this film is that the film is split into three acts, each depicting a certain stage of his life. This also helps explore themes of life, death, memory, and the impact of individual moments in a profound way. Throughout the second and third acts of the film, we also get to see some people from the previous acts interact with Chuck Krantz during his younger years. 

“The Life of Chuck” also delivers some incredible performances, especially from Tom Hiddleston (first time seeing him in a non-MCU film), who portrays the older Chuck. Hiddleston did a great job in this film and the sequence where we see him spontaneously dance with a stranger on the street while hearing a street drummer is

one of the major highlights of this feature film.

Throughout the film (primarily in the last part of the story), we also get to see glimpses of Chuck’s childhood as he lived with his grandparents - played by Mark Hamill and Mia Sara (Ferris Bueller’s girlfriend) - and how both of them actually impacted Chuck’s life as he got older.

Now, while some of the plot points of the film can be slightly confusing at times (especially during the beginning or “third act”), “The Life of Chuck” is also rather thought-provoking as the film explores themes of life, death, memory and the search for meaning. It also explores the topic of human connection, both in the present and through memories, as it highlights the importance of relationships and shared experiences.

Overall, “The Life of Chuck” is an emotional, well-made film that may be a little complex for those not familiar with the short story. Nonetheless, still make sure to give this film a shot!

Cast: Tom Hiddleston (Chuck Krantz); Chiwetel Ejiofor (Marty Anderson); Karen Gillan (Felicia Gordon); Mark Hamill (Albie Krantz); Mia Sara (Sarah Krantz); Annalise Basso (Janice Halliday); Carl Lumbly (Sam Yarbrough); Matthew Lilliard (Gus Wilfong); Nick Offerman (Narrator); Cody Flanagan/Benjamin Pajak/Jacob Tremblay (7 year old/11 year old/17 year old Chuck).

Writer/director: Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep - highly recommended; Ouija: Origin of Evil; numerous Netflix limited series).

Trivia: In July 2020, Stephen King’s novella “The Life of Chuck” was initially optioned by Darren Aronofsky’s production company, Protozoa Pictures. After the deal fell through, it was announced in May 2023 that Flanagan would adapt the story.

“The Life of Chuck” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024. Later that same month, Neon acquired the film rights.

MPA: Rated R for language   (runtime 111 minutes)

• This marks Mia Sara's return to acting since 2013. She had retired but told filmmaker Mike Flanagan she would return to acting for him after watching Midnight Mass (2021).

• The movie is based on a novella from Stephen King's "If it Bleeds" collection of short stories.

• The Life of Chuck started filming in Alabama in 2023 during the SAG-AFTRA strike against Hollywood studios. It was allowed to film despite the strike because it was given a waiver under an interim agreement program that allowed independent productions with no direct ties to members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to shoot.

• The film is an adaptation of Stephen King novella "The Life of Chuck", which was bundled in his collection of stories called "If It Bleeds". The previous novella from this collection that was adapted to film was Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022). As of 2025, the other two stories, "If It Bleeds" and "Rat" have not yet been adapted, although the latter has been optioned by Ben Stiller to produce, star and direct.

• Darren Aronofsky first optioned the rights to Stephen King's story in 2020.