1408 - A Movie Review

Hotel rooms are naturally creepy places. Beware room 1408.

Checking into the hotel in 2007, 1408 was released to theaters. Based on the short story written by Stephen King, writer, Mike Enslin does not believe in paranormal activity. Upon receiving a mysterious postcard from the Dolphin Hotel in New York, Enslin checks into room 1408. The nightmares begin the instant he shuts the door.

1408 is one of my all-time favorite Stephen King films. There is so much to talk about when it comes to 1408. Stocked with endless paranoia, terror, and an outstanding performance delivered by John Cusack, 1408 is the definition of horror. Staying inside the dark horrors of room 1408, audiences are met with a dramatic story about the terrors of an unknown evil.

If it wasn’t for John Cusack, 1408 would not be memorable. He becomes Mike Enslin. After a tragedy, Mike no longer believes in anything. He goes through the most horrifying experience in room 1408. Going through this experience forces him to open up about his grief. Viewers learn from Mike about the consequences of running from your past.

Cusack is the entity of the film. His emotions deliver a mix of skepticism, disbelief, and terror. Mostly terror. Working on 1408 was a physical effort more than existing in a constant state of hysteria. Climbing, running, crawling, and swimming, Cusack deserves gigantic applause for, in my opinion, one of his best roles.

Samuel L. Jackson is terrific in his deep and genuine performance as Gerald Olin, the owner of the Dolphin Hotel. He and Cusack did an incredible job in their signature scene of the film. Olin does everything in his willpower to restrain Mike from staying in 1408.

Olin knows more than we think. He has witnessed the terrors of 1408. Theories have risen about Olin’s mysterious behavior. Despite his minimal screentime, Olin has a huge impact on the film. Jackson embodied his part and created a range of emotions using only his eyes.

The scene where Olin and Mike talk about the dark stories behind room 1408 is the signature scene of the film. I have watched this scene multiple times because of the genuine acting and the entire well-edited setup of the scene as a whole.

Every character is important in Mike’s interactions over the course of the film. Minor characters have an extraordinary impact. Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub, Jasmine Jessica Anthony, Len Carlou, Isaih Whitlock Jr., and Kim Thomson all made a memorable appearance in the film.

1408 tells the story. Subtly is mastered letting the audiences figure out plot points that turn the entire story around. 1408 is an unsettling film. The first time I watched it I was so on-edge, even hiding halfway behind a blanket because of the suspense. It makes you feel scared. There is an evil inside this room that nobody can figure out.

A hand goes out to Mikael Håfström for his incredible direction expanding one of King’s short stories into an intense thriller. The cinematography and editing are excellent. Locations stand out, too. Furbishing a room to look like a comfortable hotel room only for it to be a nightmare is an achievement well done.

Depending on which version you watch of 1408, the film has a few different endings. I like that. In a way, the film does not have a concise conclusion. Because of the twisted nature of the film, 1408 fools audiences, too.

1408 is a spine-tingling film that you have to experience. It’s not talked about enough. I highly recommend that you find it to witness the terrors unfold.