As anticipation builds for its theatrical release this summer, audiences are getting a closer look at The Life of Chuck, the Alabama-filmed adaptation of a story from Stephen King’s collection If It Bleeds.
Distributed by NEON, the film explores the reverse chronology of Chuck’s life—beginning with his death from cancer and journeying back to his childhood in a supposedly haunted house. This genre-defying narrative is brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast including Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, and Jacob Tremblay.
The newly released trailer reveals a poignant tapestry of Chuck’s experiences, highlighting themes of love, loss, and the beauty hidden within ordinary moments. The film is described as a “genre-bending” story that transcends traditional biographical storytelling, offering a deeply emotional and unconventional look at one man’s life.
Directed by horror auteur Mike Flanagan, The Life of Chuck is already generating awards buzz. The film received the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival—an honor often seen as a predictor of Academy Award success. Every winner of the prize since 2012 has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
Flanagan, known for his frequent collaborations with Stephen King, has previously directed Gerald’s Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019), the sequel to The Shining. A familiar presence in the South, Flanagan also shot several of his earlier films—Oculus (2014) and Hush (2016)—in Alabama’s Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The Life of Chuck is yet another chapter in Flanagan’s growing legacy of blending horror with heartfelt storytelling, and fans of King’s work will likely find much to admire in this deeply human tale.
