The Plot

Inspired by a Stephen King novella and told in three distinct chapters, The Life of Chuck weaves a carefully interconnected and mysterious tale of humanity facing the apocalyptic end of the world and an intimate exploration of the life of a seemingly ordinary accountant named Charles Krantz.

The Good

The Life of Chuck adapts one of Stephen King’s more uncharacteristically optimistic tales, flavoured with his usual brand of supernatural tension but without the sense of nightmarish dread that typically defines his celebrated horror classics. Starkly juxtaposing a kind natured portrait of one man’s life with mankind’s final cosmic curtain call could easily have been an exercise in cruel irony, but instead the film gradually reveals itself to be something far more therapeutic and thankful.

The film’s compartmentalised three act non-linear storytelling structure is also massively effective in preserving the stories’ many central mysteries while also allowing audiences to explore different emotional tones and sometimes complex recurrent philosophical themes in easily digestible ways.

All of this is only possible because of a truly gifted ensemble cast with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill and Tom Hiddleston all on equally sensational form. Hiddleston’s fleet footed and kind faced turn as Charles Krantz, the mysterious titular Chuck, serves as a symbolic through line for the entire film. However in reality the film only functions and manages to weave its meticulously interconnected tale thanks to constantly superb performances from the entire cast. Hiddleston’s presence may loom both literally and metaphorically large across the screen but it’s ultimately a grand story of multitudes not just one man.

That said Hiddleston’s famously talented dancing prowess does create one of the film’s most instantly memorable and joyous sequences. It’s an eye catching and shamelessly crowd pleasing moment alongside a steady string of more subtle yet equally uplifting moments.

Overall the film’s ability to find life affirming comfort in the face of seemingly dire disaster and doomed hopelessness feels like a welcome and much needed gift in the increasingly troubled world we now inhabit.

The Bad

As with all grand mysteries this film begins by posing a myriad of unapologetically profound questions for audiences. All of the films mystique is tied to the promise of the grand reveal of eventual answers. Though the film does indeed ultimately deliver on that promise, naturally it won’t entirely satisfy everyone. The boundless ambiguity of metaphysical and supernatural questions allows audiences a little too much room to imagine their own wildly varied explanations. Meaning that when the film does eventually provide a single definitive concrete outcome it will naturally differ from what some people may have hoped for or expected.

That’s not an indictment of the film’s genuinely clever and largely satisfying narrative, just an acknowledgement that mysteries are perhaps always at their most potent when unsolved. In reality most audiences will be pleased that at least the film does deliver firm choices and resolution rather than simply getting hopelessly lost in its own premise or attempting to fudge some kind of deliberately open ended climax.

The Ugly Truth

A brilliant ensemble cast breathe compelling life into a story which is both cosmically grand and touchingly intimate in equal measure. A patient script and earnest performances keep audiences compelled and captures a great deal of Stephen King’s celebrated brilliance. It’s a complex yet simple tale that guides audiences through daunting supernatural mysteries towards satisfying and deeply life affirming conclusions.