Well-known for his successful movie adaptations of Stephen King's works like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, Mike Flanagan's latest attempt, "The Life of Chuck", takes on a different tone. This adaptation of King's 2020 novella from his collection If It Bleeds, presents an optimistic perspective on the apocalypse, playing out in reverse chronological order. The story touched Flanagan deeply, drawing him to the undercurrent of cherishing fleeting moments amidst hardship.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, but despite a positive reception, some believed it drifted too far from its initially intriguing dark premise. The movie introduced unusual elements like a dancing Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill playing a Jewish grandfather, which while interesting for some, may seem offbeat for Flanagan's dedicated fan base.
The movie sets the third act in a dystopian world marked by disasters both natural and man-made, including a devastating earthquake in California, wildfires in Ohio, flooding in Europe, and an erupting volcano in Germany, all while the internet threatens to vanish at any moment. Amidst this chaos, a schoolteacher played by Chiwetel Ejiofor and his nurse ex-wife, Karen Gillan, try to understand the enigmatic 'Thanks Chuck!' signs appearing everywhere that celebrate one Chuck Krantz (Hiddleston), for 39 great years.
The second act, set earlier in time, discloses the identity of Krantz as a bank clerk who breaks into an unexpected dance sequence in an otherwise normal day, creating an enchanting moment.
However, the first act, unveiling Krantz's backstory, feels the weakest promptly unraveling the intriguing aura built in the earlier parts. As more about Krantz is revealed, the specialty of the character is watered down. While the movie still ends up creating a temporary feel-good vibe, it does not leave a lasting impact like Flanagan's Netflix series "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Midnight Mass" manage to do. Flanagan's staple approach of crafting a consistent and unsettling mood seems to be lacking in "The Life of Chuck".
