The Life of Chuck
The first chapter drops us into an unusual apocalypse. Instead of fireballs and chaos, it’s eerily calm. People are going about their day, even as the world slowly shuts down, websites failing, natural disasters being reported but never shown. Meanwhile, ads and billboards start celebrating the life of an ordinary man, Chuck. It’s both unsettling and oddly touching, and with strong performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan, it lands as the most emotional part of the film.
The middle section shifts gears completely. Here, Hiddleston takes centre stage as Chuck himself, a buttoned-up accountant rediscovering his love of dance. With the help of a street drummer (Taylor Gordon, known online as The Pocket Queen), Chuck breaks into some impressive moves, and the whole chapter feels joyful and alive. It’s the brightest part of the film and might be the most surprising if you know Flanagan mainly for his horror work.
The final chapter takes us back to Chuck’s childhood. We see his love of dance budding, his strict grandfather (played by Mark Hamill) pushing him toward finance, and his curiosity about the supposedly haunted part of their house. This section feels a little less focused than the others, and the film doesn’t end with quite the emotional punch you might expect.
Overall, The Life of Chuck won’t be for everyone. It mixes apocalypse drama, musical energy, and a ghost-tinged coming-of-age story, all inside one film. But if you’re open to something different, it has a big heart and plenty of sincerity. It’s a film about life itself, and the small, beautiful things that make it worth living. You might find yourself shedding a tear – or scratching your head, but either way, it’s one you’ll want to talk about afterwards.
