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Movie Review - 1408 (2007)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Mikael Håfström |
| Starring: |
John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mary McCormack |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language) |
| Length: |
94 minutes |
| Genre: |
Horror/Thriller |
| Tagline: |
Based on the terrifying story by Stephen King |
| Studio: |
Dimension |
| Website: |
1408 |
| Release: |
June 22, 2007 |
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PLOT
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Mike Enslin specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences. You have a haunted hotel for him to visit? No
problem. He's more than happy to check it out and add it to his latest book. After all, there's
likely no harm to be found. Spirits and ghosts don't exist. Or do they? The night he checks into room 1408
in the Dolphin Hotel just might change his opinion. Mind manipulation ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Mike Enslin has heard all the stories - haunted attics, ghostly figures in doorways, screams in
the night. But he's visited enough of these "haunted" hotels to know that, "Ghosts are awfully
convenient for desperate hotels when the Interstate goes away."
Then one day he receives a postcard from New York's Dolphin Hotel warning him, "Don't Enter
1408." Naturally, he's going to enter 1408. Samuel L. Jackson can give as many "Samuel L. Jackson
glares" and issue all the macabre warnings he wants - no one has ever lasted an hour in the room,
there have been 56 deaths in there, 22 of which were natural, etc. - but nothing is going to stop Enslin
from using room 1408 as the perfect final chapter in his latest book. Except, possibly, the room
itself.
But Enslin isn't scared. He doesn't believe in God or ghosts, but he does believe in himself and
his ability to withstand whatever the room has to throw at him. After all, "It's just a room."
Right?
The thing I really liked about 1408 is that it plays the same mind manipulation game with
the viewer that the room plays with Enslin. It seems to be haunted with some sort of evil
entity that can exploit events from an occupant's past. But what's real?
Is it all in Enslin's head? Did the hotel put something in his alcohol or chocolate to give him
hallucinations? After all, if they can really frighten him and he gives it a great write-up then
the hotel's bookings will likely go up fifty percent.
The film kept me in its grip and delivered a creepy good time. I was on board from the start and
eagerly anticipated where they were gonna go with the story. There's one point where I thought a
plot twist was revealed, and I'll be honest with you - I was ENRAGED. I believe, "You have got to
be freaking kidding me, I hate you Stephen King," were the exact words running through my mind.
It could have been the worst climactic plot twist of all time - yes, we're talking
Secret Window caliber here - a major giving of the finger
to the audience, but thankfully, it was a fine example of the movie's mind manipulation tactics.
Good job guys, you got me!
The actual ending still contains a certain lack of closure, but the whole time I was asking
myself, "Exactly how do you end this?" And I suppose this was as good a way as any, given
the context of how the movie plays out.
The important thing is that John Cusack does a great job carrying the film, in what is
practically a one-man show, and the movie delivers some genuine thrills. I could be real
lame and say something like, "So if you're in the mood for a few spooks then by all
means, enter room 1408!" but I respect you readers and myself way too much to stoop to such
a level.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Adapted from a Stephen King short story.
- Most of the film is Cusack acting alone. "It was very challenging because there's nothing to cut
away to," admits Cusack. "You don't know if you can pull it off."
- About 400 visual effects shots were used to create the more elaborate moments in the film. "The water
bursting into the room, the room turning into a ship, the wall cracking - we tried to do as much as we could
practically," says director Håfström. "When we cracked the wall, for example, we cracked it for real."
- In addition to mastering the visual effects arena, another challenge for Håfström was deciding how to
end the film. "Stephen King's short story doesn't really have a cinematic ending. So we had a lot of debates,
and we worked on different kinds of endings," says Håfström, who promises that viewers will be treated to the
alternate endings on the DVD version of the film.
"After test screenings, we decided on the ending that we now have because we felt that it was most satisfying
not only for the audience, but for the character and for us."
- So would the actors stay in room 1408?
- "I would stay in 1408 because it's a hotel. I'd think, "Well I could just get out," says Cusack. "But I
wouldn't go 20 miles out in the country to a haunted place by myself. I'm way too terrified for that."
- "I'd probably stay well away from 1408," offers Samuel L. Jackson, who remembers being highly superstitious
as a kid. "You just can't mess around with stuff that is forbidden."
- "Why would I stay in 1408? There are so many other rooms," says Mary McCormack. "I mean, I'm not actually
afraid of ghosts. But still, there are a lot of other rooms, right? Where's the upside for me?"
- Johnny Betts would stay in room 1408, with this size 11 biker boots, because he would love nothing more
than to prove it was a hoax or to show how it wouldn't affect him at all.
- John Cusack was in Identity with Amanda Peet who was in Melinda and Melinda with Josh Brolin
who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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There's one "f" bomb, and a couple of G-d**ns, but other than that the profanity isn't all that bad. There isn't
really any blood and gore, but it's a little too intense for the young 'uns.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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If you watched the trailer and thought, "That looks messed up," then you pretty much got the general idea.
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THE GIST
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Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, 1408 is a fun ride for those of you in the mood for a
few good scares. Guys, if you want your girl clinging to your arm then do a few bicep curls and take her to
this.
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