- Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, Chiwetel Ejiofor
- August 20th 2025
- 111
- Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan tells the story of accountant Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz by presenting three distinct chapters in his life.
Mike Flanagan and Stephen King are best known for their work in horror, so it would be easy to assume that The Life of Chuck is in that genre. However, this time around, they’re bringing us something completely different.
This fantasy drama, written and directed by Flanagan from King’s 2020 novella, quite simply tells the story of Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz, an accountant with a love of dancing.
The film presents three distinct chapters in Chuck’s life in reverse chronological order, beginning with him at 39 (Tom Hiddleston) and ending with his childhood, in which he’s played by Cody Flanagan, Benjamin Pajak and then Jacob Tremblay.
The Life of Chuck is a truly unique film, something which is rare to see in cinemas today. It shouldn’t work – it doesn’t tell a complete story, the structure is non-traditional, and the first chapter feels like it’s in a different movie – yet somehow it does.
However, one unconventional storytelling technique becomes frustrating after a while. Instead of traditional dialogue within a scene, a lot of the story is told through narration by Nick Offerman.
The on-screen actors have too little to say (except for some chunky monologues), while Offerman has too much, because Flanagan over-relies on the narration to tell the story.
One of the film’s most talked-about aspects is Hiddleston’s central dance sequence. It feels a little cringeworthy and awkward when Hiddleston randomly starts dancing in the street, but the charming sequence will win you over eventually and put a smile on your face.
The reason behind the dance isn’t clear in that chapter, but it makes more sense when we reach Chuck’s childhood, which features the best Chuck, the 11-year-old version played by Pajak.
This child star is adorable, and he gets so much joy out of dancing, so it is a delight to watch him bust a move onscreen.
Because of the structure of the film and because it only tells snapshots of Chuck’s life, a lot of our big-name cast members don’t have much screen time, including Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan.
As he’s the titular character, you might assume this is Hiddleston’s film, but he’s really not in it much at all. He doesn’t have many lines and he shares the role with three other actors.
The film has divided opinion, with some people finding it profound and emotionally hard-hitting and others finding it emotionally hollow and striving for profundity.
You’ll have to check it out to discover where you land with the story’s emotional resonance, but one thing is for sure: It’ll give you plenty to think about when you leave the cinema
In cinemas from Wednesday 20th August.
By Hannah Wales.
© Cover Media