1408 (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Based on a short Stephen King story of the same name, '1408' (directed by Mikael Hafstrom) is a good old-fashioned horror flick. As research for his latest book on the paranormal, Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is eager to check out suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel in NYC. He expects to have another ghost-free night, like any other supposed haunted hotel that he studies. However, hotel manager Olin (Samuel L. Jackson) has strong objections to Enslin's wish & warns him that one hour in that room would be a death wish. Believing only what he can see with his own eyes, Enslin scoffs at the notion of ghosts (or the afterlife), though he's famous for his horror novels. The 1st few scenes are great as we watch Enslin check-in to a quaint bed-and-breakfast type of hotel. Armed with his tape recorder, electromagnetic wave meter, & stain detector, he lies in wait, but nothing happens.
Disenchanted, or perhaps amused by his lack of extrasensory evidence, he drudges on & eventually learns of Dolphin's suite 1408. 56 people have died in that room over a 95 yr. period, but that doesn't deter Enslin. He still thinks this haunted room is a myth. As you can probably imagine, some spooky things start happening. The radio comes on (playing the 'We've Only Just Begun'), the sink turns on, whispers tinge the air, windows open & shut, the room's temperature escalates & declines from 80 degrees to -5, images of the deceased linger, etc. There's a scene where Enslin calls for help across the street and he's sees himself as a mirror image through a parallel window. And there's a neat segment where he's scaling the building, skirting along a narrow ledge to get from room 1408 to a window next door, but a wide-shot shows there to be no windows anywhere! This is where you KNOW it's a Stephen King work.
As mentioned, '1408' is most effective in its early scenes where you're anticipating Enslin's eventual stay at the Dolphin Hotel. His repartee with Manager Olin is the foundation; dread is imminent. The movie is about Enslin vs. Olin, and it quickly becomes Enslin vs. Room. I'm not a big fan, but John Cusack's acting actually saves this film for me. He's completely believable; I feared for him, but was also secretly hoping he wouldn't escape ... just to see what else would be thrown at him/us. Samuel L. Jackson is at his best here, desperately trying to convince Enslin to scram while he still can. His pulsating warnings give us the goosebumps that remain throughout the movie. 2 performances I didn't care for was Mary McCormack's, nor the girl who portrays Enslin's daughter. Plain bad acting.
Does the room win? Who is the old man & young girl he sees in the suite? Is this film simply a metaphor for a man trying to cope with his daughter's death? As much as I'm impressed with the film's mood, psychological terror, & visuals, it just falls short of horror flick mastery. The 1st 45 minutes are gripping, followed by an excess of everything; including multiple endings. I wish it were as edgy and as insane as, say, The Shining, but alas, this film is only rated PG-13. '1408' succeeds in ways, and disappoints in others (some trite, repetitious scares, and a wandering anticlimax). But overall, I was entertained. Thumbs up for its intensity, and extreme watchability. I much prefer ghosts to gore.
Disenchanted, or perhaps amused by his lack of extrasensory evidence, he drudges on & eventually learns of Dolphin's suite 1408. 56 people have died in that room over a 95 yr. period, but that doesn't deter Enslin. He still thinks this haunted room is a myth. As you can probably imagine, some spooky things start happening. The radio comes on (playing the 'We've Only Just Begun'), the sink turns on, whispers tinge the air, windows open & shut, the room's temperature escalates & declines from 80 degrees to -5, images of the deceased linger, etc. There's a scene where Enslin calls for help across the street and he's sees himself as a mirror image through a parallel window. And there's a neat segment where he's scaling the building, skirting along a narrow ledge to get from room 1408 to a window next door, but a wide-shot shows there to be no windows anywhere! This is where you KNOW it's a Stephen King work.
As mentioned, '1408' is most effective in its early scenes where you're anticipating Enslin's eventual stay at the Dolphin Hotel. His repartee with Manager Olin is the foundation; dread is imminent. The movie is about Enslin vs. Olin, and it quickly becomes Enslin vs. Room. I'm not a big fan, but John Cusack's acting actually saves this film for me. He's completely believable; I feared for him, but was also secretly hoping he wouldn't escape ... just to see what else would be thrown at him/us. Samuel L. Jackson is at his best here, desperately trying to convince Enslin to scram while he still can. His pulsating warnings give us the goosebumps that remain throughout the movie. 2 performances I didn't care for was Mary McCormack's, nor the girl who portrays Enslin's daughter. Plain bad acting.
Does the room win? Who is the old man & young girl he sees in the suite? Is this film simply a metaphor for a man trying to cope with his daughter's death? As much as I'm impressed with the film's mood, psychological terror, & visuals, it just falls short of horror flick mastery. The 1st 45 minutes are gripping, followed by an excess of everything; including multiple endings. I wish it were as edgy and as insane as, say, The Shining, but alas, this film is only rated PG-13. '1408' succeeds in ways, and disappoints in others (some trite, repetitious scares, and a wandering anticlimax). But overall, I was entertained. Thumbs up for its intensity, and extreme watchability. I much prefer ghosts to gore.