1408

(8/10)



First I just want to say I hope this is the start of some good, classy horror movies coming back into play. It's been a few good years since the whole What lies beneath the ring with my sixth sense business. Anyway, John Cusack stars as the same character he always plays. Layed back, cocky and cool. This time he plays a writer, Mike Enslin, who publishes books on the occult, though he himself may know that its just a gimmick he uses to make some money off of his very small fan base. One day he mysteriously gets a postcard from The Dolphin Hotel in New York City that reads "Don't Go in 1408" he assumes its just a ploy to get him there, get the hotel some business and scare up a story to sell. When he arrives, the management is not keen on letting him sleep there and insisting on him taking control of his safely. Here we are introduced to Samuel L. Jackson in more of a big cameo role as the owner of The Dolphin who tries any bribe possible to sway Mike from staying in room 1408. Well let's just say things get trippy and scary- fast! Mike ends up trapped in a hellish world where no corner or crack of the room is safe. Will he make it out before he is consumed?

After a slow yet comical start the movie does get grinding. The special effects are low on gore and almost go overboard but they don't. Director Mikael Håfström definetly brings us along for the ride- we feel like we are in a haunted hotel and our minds are getting screwed with. There is a very clever plot device about a third into the movie that was used wisely. I don't want to give too much away but it's easy to begin to see that this movie is an allegory for fighting the past, a past in which Mike has never really faced, this aspect makes the movie much more than a psychological thriller but a drama of human emotions that we can all relate to.

One of the scenes early on when Samuel L. Jackson and John Cusack have a cat and mouse type conversation works well, I was very suprised how nicely they played off one another. Also, Mike's estranged wife- Lily , played by Mary McCormack is a small role but she does a good job.

Overall I'd call this The Shining- lite, it's surely a smaller package than other Stephen King film offerings and I've heard the original ending was different and deemed much darker. But in a time of sequels, remakes and unoriginal horror, this is something to sink your teeth, eyes and ears into. But if you'd rather skip out on movie ghosts and see real ones...theres always "Haunted Mansion, Orlando" ;)