The Life of Chuck
If you had the chance to open a door that would show you the final moments of your life — would you do it?
The Life of Chuck is a new Stephen King adaptation, this time directed by Mike Flanagan. Known mostly for his horror films, here he tries something very different — a heartfelt drama about a seemingly ordinary man named Chuck. The film is told in three acts, and its most interesting trick is that the story moves backwards — from the end to the beginning.
It starts with the third act, where we watch a group of strangers reacting to what seems like the end of the world. But soon we understand that this “apocalypse” is actually a metaphor — it’s happening inside Chuck’s mind as he’s dying from a brain tumor. Instead of showing us sad hospital scenes or grieving family members, the film shows us how Chuck’s consciousness slowly fades. His mind shows him flashes of people, places, and moments he remembers — and then quietly lets go of each one. The end of the world becomes a reflection of his own personal ending, the death of his thinking self.
The second act takes place nine months before his death, when Chuck is still alive and unaware of his illness. During a business trip, he walks down a pedestrian street and hears a street drummer playing. Suddenly, Chuck stops and begins to dance — not just a casual move, but a full-on dance number. A woman named Janice joins him, and together they create an unexpected, joyful performance that draws a crowd. It’s one of the film’s highlights — a simple, feel-good moment that leaves a big impression.
The third act (chronologically the first) brings us to Chuck’s childhood and teenage years. We see him dealing with the loss of his parents and an unborn sister, living with his grandparents, and discovering his early passions and emotions. There’s also a mysterious element — a locked attic room in the house that he’s forbidden to enter. Eventually, Chuck opens the door and sees a vision of his own final moments. It doesn’t tell him when exactly he’ll die, but it gives him a general idea — enough to know he’ll still be young. From that moment, he begins to live with the knowledge that his life has a visible endpoint.
But instead of being terrified, this knowledge pushes Chuck to live fully. He becomes more aware of the value of every day, every little thing. He promises himself to enjoy life, to avoid falling into sadness or routine. And that message becomes the core of the film.
In the end, The Life of Chuck is a very touching film with a simple idea — but one that hits deep. It speaks about life and death, about how we take things for granted, about how easy it is to get lost in daily stress and forget to actually live. It reminds us that every person is their own little universe. And just like the real universe, each of us has a timeline — a beginning and an end. This film doesn’t try to teach you a lesson or shame you into being more grateful. It just gently shows you that even in sad or dark moments, there’s always something beautiful around us. It’s a reminder of what it means to be human — and how amazing it is that we can think, feel, and simply be.
And if one day you feel like dancing in the street — do it, because why not? Enjoy it.
8.5/10
