Home > Entertainment > Movies
From the heart and soul of Mike Flanagan.
By
Kristy Puchko
Kristy Puchko
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers.
Read Full Bio
on
2025 has offered a lot of tantalizing horror already, with such freaky films as the rom-com slasher Heart Eyes, the ultra-violent Stephen King adaptation The Monkey, and Ryan Coogler's awe-inspiring vampire thriller Sinners. But the biggest surprise for horror fans this year might be that The Life of Chuck, the upcoming collaboration between horror auteur Mike Flanagan and prolific author Stephen King, which is not really a horror movie at all.
While Flanagan's previous two King adaptations, Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, were deeply creepy, The Life of Chuck is an uplifting story of love, joy, and letting go. Based on a King novella, this movie blends genres in three chapters to explore the life of an average guy (Tom Hiddleston) and his profound impact on the world.
Joining Hiddleston in peopling this world is a crackling ensemble cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Annalise Basso, Benjamin Pajak, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Tremblay, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill.
Early reviews out of the film's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall were ecstatic. In my review for Mashable, I cheered, "The Life of Chuck is a perfect marriage of Mike Flanagan and Stephen King's talents, but not in the way you might expect....There are some movies that really deserve to be seen in a big theater, surrounded by people — a community –tied to each other in the heady experience of cinematic art, and The Life of Chuck is one of them. It is glorious."
SEE ALSO:
Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, rankedBut hey, this is still Stephen King we're talking about. So while The Life of Chuck is more Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me than It or Carrie, it still features some spooky elements. Horror fans might not see this as a horror movie, but they will likely relish in its suspense all the same.
The Life of Chuck opens in theaters June 6.
Topics Film Trailers
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers.
Latest Videos
Joe Wright reveals much-memed 'Pride and Prejudice' line came from Emma Thompson
Plus, he shares the origins of Darcy's dead sexy hand flex.
By Mark Stetson and Kristy Puchko
Ryan Coogler and 'Sinners' cast on their vampire musical being 'genre-fluid'
Does it matter how audiences label it?
By Kristy Puchko
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' trailer unleashes Galactus and Silver Surfer
Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn star as Marvel's First Family.
By Belen Edwards
AI-powered robot dog is learning to 'live' like a human
This must be the most bizarre gig a dog trainer could get.
By Teodosia Dobriyanova
Prue Leith spills the tea on the differences between the 'Great British' and 'Great American Baking Show'
"I think this year's bunch are the best we've had."
By Mark Stetson
Jimmi Simpson on 'Cast Away's unexpected influence in 'Black Mirror': 'USS Callister: Into Infinity'
Plus — what is it like to eat space octopus?
By Kristy Puchko and Warren Shaw
'The Roses' trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman get down and dirty in a gnarly divorce
Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, and more also star.
By Belen Edwards
Netflix announces Fred and Rosemary West true crime documentary with chilling trailer
A three-part series about the British serial killer couple is coming.
By Shannon Connellan
Stephen Colbert and Alan Cumming's 'Billionaires Are Actually Good' song is a chilling bop
🎶Sing their praises and maybe when we are done, they’ll f*** off and colonise the sun.🎶
By Shannon Connellan
Watch: Meet 'The Ugly Stepsister's Dr. Esthétique, beauty guru for aspiring princesses
A Cinderella horror story you won't want to miss.
By Kristy Puchko
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!
