Directed by Mike Flanagan — Screenplay by Mike Flanagan.

Over the course of the last ten years or so, one of the more interesting developments in horror filmmaking when it comes to adapting a previously released source material has been following Mike Flanagan go from original horror filmmaker on the rise to being particularly skilled at adapting notable works from Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allan Poe, and, chiefly, Stephen King. Although I am still of the opinion that his best work is his original horror series Midnight Mass, which itself was clearly inspired by King’s work, he is likely more known for his actual Stephen King adaptations. Gerald’s Game was a skillfully and confidently made psychological horror film, Doctor Sleep was a significant achievement in that it managed to honor both Kubrick’s The Shining and King’s original vision, and, recently, Flanagan’s adaptation of the Stephen King short story The Life of Chuck — notably not a traditional horror narrative — has served as another notable milestone for the writer-director. When it had its festival release at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, it earned its filmmaker the coveted People’s Choice Award, and when it had its theatrical release in 2025, it garnered passionate responses but failed to land any Oscar nominations, despite the aforementioned audience award often leading to such. When I finally saw it last weekend, I saw why the film has earned such a strong word-of-mouth.

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