Review - 1408

Perhaps the best explanation for why 1408 is such an evil room was given by the hotel manager, Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson) whilst he tried to dissuade Mike Enslin (John Cusack) from staying in the room. . .

. . . he states plainly but knowingly “It’s an evil fucking room”. I think that is one of my favorite elements in the film, that they don’t try to explain why this evil has come to be - it just very simply is there. Add to that the amazing almost one man show put on by John Cusack and you’ve got yourself something to talk about.

The story goes that author, Mike Enslin after losing his beloved daughter Katie (Jasmine Jessica Anthony), finds himself going through the motions of his life pushing out book after book of 10 best haunted places - perhaps secretly searching for his own window to the other side. Not having found one of his own, he is more than happy to sarcastically shatter anyone else’s. This is all before he accepts his invitation from Room 1408.

After researching the room’s history and finding it to be suitably spooky enough, he tries to make a reservation. It seems however, Mr. Olin has forbidden anyone from staying in the room. Through a legal loophole secured by his agent Sam Farrell (Tony Shalhoub), Mike forces Olin’s hand and is allowed to stay in the room. But not before Olin has one last stab at trying to convince Mike that staying in 1408 is just one seriously bad idea.

There are a couple of times during this exchange that you get the feeling Mike might cave and just take the research and go write his killer book ending from that, but that wouldn’t have made for a very interesting movie at all now would it? Olin does make the comment that no one has made it for more than an hour though and you think you know what that means when he says it but trust me, you do not.

This film was filled with a decent amount of scares but what I found most entertaining about it was that there weren’t scares for the sake of throwing in some CGI or buckets of blood, guts and gore (not that I find anything wrong with well placed CGI or buckets of blood guts and gore, mind you). This is more of a psychological thriller and it really gets you thinking about whether it is the room’s demons that Mike is fighting or his own.

A definite recommend. Lots of creepy atmosphere and a feeling of general uneasiness follow you throughout 1408. The characters were really well fleshed out - even the ones you only saw for a short while which really were all of them except Mike Enslin and 1408 (make no mistake about it, the room is definitely a character in this film).

By the way - for those of you who didn't know this is based on a short story by Stephen King - given my penhanct for King, no wonder I liked it . . .

Directed by
Mikael Håfström

Writing credits
(WGA)
Matt Greenberg (screenplay) and
Scott Alexander (screenplay) &
Larry Karaszewski (screenplay)
Stephen King (short story)


Cast (in credits order)
John Cusack ... Mike Enslin
Mary McCormack ... Lily Enslin
Jasmine Jessica Anthony ... Katie
David Nicholson ... Man Two at Book Signing
Alexandra Silber ... Young Woman at Book Signing
Tony Shalhoub ... Sam Farrell
Emily Harvey ... Secretary
Noah Lee Margetts ... Bellboy Noah
Samuel L. Jackson ... Gerald Olin

rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Armstrong ... Clay (Lawyer)
Paul Birchard ... Mr. Innkeeper
Chris Carey ... Fireman
Len Cariou ... Father
Gil Cohen-Alloro ... Maitre'd
George Cottle ... Mailbox Worker #1
Paul Kasey ... Kevin O'Malley
Margot Leicester ... Mrs. Innkeeper
Walter Lewis ... Cashier
Tina Maskell ... 1950's Lady
Anthony C. Mazza ... Cop #2
Thomas A. McMahon ... Cop #1
Eric Meyers ... Man One at Book Signing
Ray Nicholas ... Factory Owner
Angel Oquendo ... Taxi Cab Driver
Andrew Lee Potts ... Mailbox Guy
Drew Powell ... Assistant Hotel Manager
Julian Spencer ... Mailbox Worker #2
Kim Thomson ... Desk Clerk
Johann Urb ... Surfer Dude
Benny Urquidez ... Claw Hammer Maniac
Isiah Whitlock Jr. ... Engineer
William Willoughby ... Mailbox Worker #3