The Life of Chuck (15)

Mike Flanagan transforms Stephen King’s novella into a heartfelt, reverse-told drama that swaps supernatural chills for a tender meditation on memory, joy, and the moments that define us.

Perhaps best known for Netflix shows Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan applies his gift for intimate character work to a more reflective, human story. Set across three chapters that play in reverse order, the film begins in a world on the brink, where teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) turns to ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan) for comfort as mysterious ads for Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) appear everywhere. The middle act finds Chuck embracing life in a drum-infused, street-side dance, joined by strangers drawn to his energy, while the closing chapter rewinds to his childhood with loving grandparents (Mark Hamill, Sara Flanagan) and the quiet discoveries that shaped him.

The structure flirts with gimmickry, but Flanagan’s warmth, paired with magnetic performances from Ejiofor, Gillan, Hiddleston, and a career-best Hamill, keeps things emotionally grounded. Bittersweet, playful, and quietly profound, it’s a film that finds beauty in the chaos of a life fully lived.