The Life of Chuck

[SpecialMilkMonitor]

Woman’s Hour has just helpfully reminded me it’s adapted from a Stephen King novella.

I need assurance that I will not be embarrassing myself in the cinema after some ambush of unanticipated horror.

Thank you.

(Seriously, it looks epic; I want to see it! Anyone read the book?)

It's perhaps disquieting, but not "horror" in any way.

It's not typical Stephen King at all. Brilliant story though

Saw it a few days ago, it was incredible. Not classic horror, but unsettling.

Ah, thanks!

Front Row (Radio 4) had a glorious preview interview with Tom Hiddleston yesterday evening which has whetted my appetite. Almost as much as a fantastic analysis of the dancing scene in The New York Times a while ago:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/movies/tom-hiddleston-dance-life-of-chuck.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fk8.6e8l.LItOAORI_s5W&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Karen Gillan on Woman’s Hour’s was so vague I was still in the dark about it.

I’m gradually phasing out all my streaming subscriptions and edging towards cinema club memberships - but can’t always find anything I actually want to go out to see. Romance is insufferably dull, horror is impossible (unless Ryan Coogler or Jordan Peele). I’m fond of Marvel but quite happy to watch that sort of thing on my laptop.

Oh - what’s the ideal sequence; novella first, then film, or the other way around?

Just been to see it, certainly not a horror in the traditional sense, although I did miss the first 10 minutes. It was an enjoyable film definitely worth a watch.

I saw it last night. I think it’s incredible. I don’t watch horror or anything violent. There is no horror. A little bit of supernatural. Themes around human existence really. That we are a speck in terms of the life of the universe, but life is also wonderful. It’s more uplifting than dark. Watch it!

I was planning to see it today when I get home, but train cancellations may mean I’ll miss today’s showings.

I read the novella recently from what I remember it was sad and poignant but in a good way!

I have just seen it and found it pretty emotional and perplexing, mostly perplexing. The cast especially the child actor who plays Chuck is very good, as are all of the cast. I think it will be a film that stays with me for a while and has me asking questions.

Could tell it was a mick flanagan film with the casting! Very enjoyable though moving

It was good, definitely worth seeing but we agreed it should have been half an hour longer as it didn't seem finished and should have had more Tom Hiddleston scenes in as there weren't that many.

It’s a beautiful film.

I thought it was meant. Not surprised it was a novella rather than a novel.

I saw it on Sunday - DH and I were the only ones in the cinema! I thought parts 3 and 1 were really good but part 2 was curiously short, as others have said. We learnt very little about Chuck as an adult - I wanted to know why he’d decided to be an accountant rather than pursuing dance. But overall I enjoyed it and thought Chiwetel Enjiofor was excellent.

Would you recommend seeing this film?

Who are you asking, @Totallybannanas? There are several opinions on the thread.

As for me - illness has unfortunately tied me to my bed. Praying it will still be on at my local cinemas by the time I’m allowed out!

Gotta love Tom dancing.

i loved the middle part. Who knows why any of us end up following a certain path - it’s such a mixture.
I was surprised it had a proper ending- you actually get to find out what’s in the locked room. I bloody loved it - I’d like to go again!

Loved it.

God - over four months since I started this thread!

I have, finally, just watched the film, after saving it for the holidays. I thought it was stupendous. And really, really clever. I won’t mind if it takes awards for adaptation - Sinners was an original screenplay and One Battle After Another would still win lots of other categories.

Just watched this on Netflix - really enjoyed it but feel a bit “Well what was THAT all about then?” about it particularly the references to Chuck in the first section with Karen Gillan