The Life of Chuck Movie Review: A beautiful mystery that frustrates as much as it fascinates

Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck explores profound spiritual themes, delving into the ephemerality and meaning of life and advocating for carpe diem. Surprisingly, the film does not start with Chuck himself. It opens at a school with teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) as the world faces an impending apocalypse. Technology and basic communication systems are not working, and there are calamities happening in different parts of the world. Amidst all this, Anderson repeatedly sees billboards and digital displays thanking Charles 'Chuck' Krantz for ''39 great years''. He questions the blatant patronising in the hour of crisis, discussing it and the unfolding events with his ex-wife Felicia Gordon (Karen Gillan).

Amidst the events, Anderson shares a poignant moment with Gordon. This scene then transitions, leading the narrative to a different chapter, introducing Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) in a seemingly unconnected setting. Chuck is an accountant with a large clientele, yet what excites him more is life’s little pleasures, like breaking into a dance at the sight of a drummer on the streets. Soon, a young woman joins him, and crowds throng the area to witness their performance. Later, the drummer asks Chuck why he danced, to which he replies, "I do not know". Flanagan juxtaposes this with the drummer's tune resembling the sound of Chuck's late grandmother making music with kitchen utensils, a subtle hint at a deeper connection. Yet Chuck insists he does not know why he danced. This makes you wonder whether Chuck is lying, being honest, or lying to himself to avoid a happy memory. His denial hints at the quiet ache of unacknowledged memories, suggesting how happiness can sometimes be linked to forgotten pasts.

Director: Mike Flanagan

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Later, there is a similar moment in the film involving a teenage version of Chuck. There, too, Chuck is presented with a reason not to dance, yet he ultimately chooses to dance after seeing a shooting star. This speaks to a profound inner drive to experience life fully, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging. Both the shooting star and the grandmother's resonant sound function as transcendent moments, lifting Chuck beyond his mundane reality and internal struggles to something deeply personal. These two scenes seem to function as reflections of Chuck's core philosophy of engaging with life's profound beauty and joy, irrespective of his life situation. The nonlinear narrative structure suggests that these small, seemingly insignificant moments are the building blocks of who he is. The consistent choice to embrace joy and connection, even when it is difficult, perhaps defines his "39 great years”.

The film offers a deep and heartfelt exploration of Chuck's life and its ultimate meaning. However, this remains a theory, as The Life of Chuck never truly unravels its mysteries. Flanagan keeps the film ambiguous and open to interpretations. It is disputable whether his approach to adapting Stephen King’s novella is the right one. While certain sequences have a therapeutic quality, Flanagan’s narrative does not fully immerse you in the journey. The film employs a highly inventive and provocative cinematic approach, inviting viewers to think about its central enigma. Notwithstanding the ambiguity in the narrative, the film’s lack of immersion is frustrating because it is one of those films that becomes more interesting in hindsight. Flanagan does not give you a fair chance to solve its central puzzle. The film does not have enough visual cues to tell apart truth and fiction. Maybe Flanagan does not consider it a puzzle film, but you do not feel like going back to the beginning to start seeing it all over again. This is ultimately a dampener for a film with a big conceit at its heart.

Nevertheless, The Life of Chuck offers much to admire, including Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak’s wonderful performances as younger Chuck and Hiddleston’s grace and gravitas. May the impact of Chuck's story "go up in multitudes" and resonate more with repeat viewings.