When it comes to film adaptations of books, no one has had a chequered career than Stephen King. The master of horror has some outstanding film versions from Carrie (the original 1976 version) to The Shining (although King himself hates it) to more recently It (the first part). Where he has scored highly is the adaptations of his short stories, with the likes of The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me being instant classics. Now we get The Life of Chuck, an intriguing tale that is almost impossible to describe and yet is a movie that, once you have seen it, will stay with you just like the two previous titles.

The world seems to be changing. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and the demise of the internet: it is heading to the end. Yet something strange is happening. Messages keep appearing thanking a man called Charles Krantz for 39 glorious years. What does it mean? And who is Chuck Krantz?

To give away anything else would be a crime for a movie that manages to keep the attention thanks to a very clever use of time structure from writer and director Mike Flanagan, the man behind previous Stephen King adaptations, Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. He has taken a tale of an ordinary man and turned it into something special.

For a movie that seems to be so downbeat, Flanagan and his cast have injected an air of hope and joy. Beautifully shot, Flanagan throws into the film some clever ideas that keep the film together, and as you work through the narrative, which doesn’t follow the usual guidelines of beginning, middle and end, you can see the connections yourself, and it all comes together ingeniously. It works so well, and when you make that connection, it makes the whole film seem even more magical.

Don’t be surprised that you find yourself with a little tear running down your cheek. This is a film that hits at the emotional heart several times. The key moment should go down in movie history as one of those scenes you will never forget. Chuck is walking down a street when he comes across a busker playing drums. That is the start of a dance number that will not only have you grinning throughout but will hit your heart with joy, and you will want to dance too. It is, without a doubt, the scene of the film and probably the scene of the year.

From a performance point of view, the cast is terrific. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan make for a sweet couple, while Mark Hamill is on top form as Chuck’s grandfather, and it’s so nice to see Mia Sara (the girlfriend of Ferris Bueller) back on the screen. As the title character, you would expect Tom Hiddleston to be in the film throughout. However, he has 19 minutes of actual screen time, and he excels in each of those moments, particularly showing off his exceptional dancing skills.

To say anymore would give the whole game away, but this is a movie that will have you smiling, crying and re-evaluating your own life. The Life of Chuck has flopped in cinemas, but hopefully it will be another film like The Shawshank Redemption, which didn’t succeed in cinemas but found life outside of them. It deserves a second life.

5 out of 5

Director: Mike Flanagan

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Cody Flanagan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Mark Hamill, Carl Lumbly, Matthew Liddard, David Dastmalchian, Annalise Basso

Written by Mike Flanagan and (based on the short story) Stephen King

Running Time: 115 mins

Cert: 15

Release date: 20th August 2025