Mike Flanagan may be best known for his hit Netflix shows about generational trauma, especially The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, but Toronto International Film Festival.

Chiwetel Ejiofor) experiencing what seems to be the impending apocalypse while billboards and television commercials bidding farewell to "Chuck" pop up all around him. The story blossoms from there, offering snapshots of how each person can touch the lives of others in unexpected ways.

Tom Hiddleston smiles as Chuck in The Life of Chuck banner still
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The Life Of Chuck Review: Mike Flanagan Successfully Mixes Genres In Exciting Stephen King Adaptation [TIFF]

The film is poignant and meaningful, with an appreciation for life that reminds us why we live it and how to enjoy it as well. 

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Screen Rant interviewed filmmaker Mike Flanagan on the red carpet for The Life of Chuck, discussing the power of Stephen King's work with him as well as the chances of a return to the world of Oculus. We also had the chance to catch musician Taylor Gordon (known as "The Pocket Queen") at her TIFF debut, and she explained how she wound up playing the drums for a pivotal dance sequence in the second act of the movie.

The Life Of Chuck Director Mike Flanagan Talks Stephen King & Oculus 2

"I think he handles characters better than anyone else in the genre."

Screen Rant: As a noted Stephen King enthusiast, what keeps you coming back to him?

Mike Flanagan: His heart. I think he handles characters better than anyone else in the genre. The horror elements are great, but they really only work because he's so terrific at painting three-dimensional, heartfelt people, and that's what always pulls me in.

Screen Rant: With how open the ending of the movie left things, some have remained hopeful for an Oculus sequel. Do you think you’d ever be curious about revisiting that world?

Mike Flanagan: Oh, I don't know. We'd have to untangle who owns Oculus 2. I think that would be the thing. I don't know what the rights situation is for that. All to say, though, there were always a lot of stories with that I'd love to tell. Working with Karen is always phenomenal. I'm so glad I got to do it again, although I don't know how to bring her back into the Oculus world without bringing her back from the dead. But Annalise Basso, also in this, is from Oculus. It's very cool.

Screen Rant: What is it like for you to always get to pick from such an amazing stable of actors?

Mike Flanagan: Oh, it's one of the greatest privileges of what I get to do. We've built a little company [of actors] over the years. It does feel like a family, and being able to work with them is why I love going to work. Having that shorthand and that trust is one of the best things about my job.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Musician Taylor Gordon Shares Life Lessons From Her First Acting Experience

"God had to be in the equation to make it perfect."

Screen Rant: It seems incredible that The Life of Chuck is your first acting gig. How did you end up being a part of this project?

Taylor Gordon: Actually, I just got an email one day seeing if I would be interested in acting, which I had never acted before. I was kind of on the fence, but I decided to do it anyway. You've just got to jump in.

Screen Rant: What was the biggest lesson you took away from this experience?

Taylor Gordon: I would say that while I loved how, despite everything that we planned, there needed to be enough room for magic. God had to be in the equation to make it perfect. I would say plan as much as you can, but you've got to leave God the rest of the equation to solve for perfection.

Screen Rant: Next to you is the great Stephen King. Are you an enthusiast, and was this what you expected from an adaptation of his work?

Taylor Gordon: Actually, I'm a little squeamish, so I don't really dive into horror that much. But of course, when I heard that it was an adaptation of one of his books, I was extremely excited.

And it's even more amazing to know that this story is maybe a different direction from what he [normally] does, since I'm a believer in taking risks. I'm so grateful to be involved with that.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

More About The Life Of Chuck (2024)

Tom Hiddleston as Charles Krantz in The Life of Chuck poster sitting at his desk and smiling

With The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan takes a detour from the macabre to explore one of Stephen King’s alternate sensibilities in an adaptation that carries the spirit of his most optimistic work. The world feels like it’s ending and everybody’s saying goodbye to Chuck. Wherever Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) goes, he can’t get away from Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston). His face is showing up on billboards, window signs — even TV commercials. What’s so special about this seemingly ordinary ant and why does he warrant such a sendoff?

Their connection includes Marty’s ex-wife (Karen Gillan), her co-worker, his neighbour, and just about everyone else they know. Chuck’s life story soon begins to unravel in front of us, going back to a childhood with grandfather Albie (Mark Hamill), who teaches him about ing and es on a love for dancing, all the while keeping him from a prophetic secret in the attic.

Check out our other TIFF 2024 interviews here:

The Life of Chuck premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and is currently seeking distribution.

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The Life of Chuck
R
Drama
Fantasy
Science Fiction
8/10
Release Date
May 30, 2025
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Mike Flanagan
Writers
Stephen King
Producers
D. Scott Lumpkin, Elan Gale, Trevor Macy, Molly C. Quinn, Melinda Nishioka

Cast

See All

The Life of Chuck is a narrative exploring the life of Chuck Krantz, presented in reverse chronological order. The film begins with Chuck's end, gradually revealing his earlier experiences and the events that shaped his journey, offering a unique perspective on his lifetime.

Studio(s)
Intrepid Pictures, QWGmire
Main Genre
Drama