It is more a redemptive fantasy, straining to find rueful acceptance of life’s losses in the language of the cosmic sublime. It is not ashamed of displaying grand emotions and wants the viewer to give into these too.

Clever conceits all too easily tip over into synthetic contrivance. If The Life Of Chuck... just about manages to stay on the right side of that tricky balance, it’s largely thanks to solid work from the cast.

It's a musing film and an amusing film, but it's also beautifully poignant and profound.

Stephen King has always been a deeply humanist writer, and it’s his empathy and compassion that Mike Flanagan seems drawn to and able to capture.