John Cusack plays Mike Enslin, a pretty empty paranormal investigator. The guy really doesn't believe in anything, a complex brought about by many failed paranormal experiences he's had. It seems everywhere this guy goes to investigate paranormal phenomena....he comes up empty with no real "experience" to speak of. That is until he comes across a newspaper article that tells of the Dolphin Hotel, and within it....a mysterious room numbered "1408". Enslin is intrigued by many things imbedded within the lore of the infamous room, but two things in particular stick out to him. A rash of mysterious suicides that have occured within it being one of them. Enslin doesn't have an easy time getting what he wants though, as when he calls to get a reservation for the room, he's turned down countless times by the person on the other end of the phone. Tony Shalhoub (Monk) makes an appearance in the movie as Enslin's publisher, and tells him of a tiny loophole which would enable him to get the room. Upon his arrival at the hotel, Enslin meets the hotel manager Mr. Olin (Samuel L. Jackson). Jackson's character is a suave, yet weird fellow. Sam plays this character really well, and I say that because early on you can never really get a read on Olin. Is he just weird with good intentions, or is he evil with even eviler intentions? The dialogue between Olin and Enslin in Olins' office is great stuff. Without giving too much away, it all basically centers on the room itself, it's tragic history, and the fact that no one has survived a stay within it past one hour. Enslin however won't be undone, and after the chat Olin finally decides to give him access to the room. This is where "1408" steps up it's game, and I must give credit to director Mikael Hafstrom and writers Larry Karazewski and Scott Alexander. The script is written specifically to slowly suck the audience into the room and what frightening horrors it holds. Hafstrom's directing adds a very eerie mood to the film and helps to make alot of it's "big scare" scenes have their best impact. And believe me, there are some trippy scenes in this movie. Most of them come out of nowhere and are very unexpected. That's really what makes the scares work, you don't see any of them coming. This is the first horror film I've seen in a long time where the scares are in all the unexpected places. "1408" excels mostly because 90% of the movie is spent inside the room, which as the film goes on...sort of takes on a life of it's own, and kind of becomes a character in the actual movie....instead of just a haunted place. Cusack's character spends most of the picture being tormented, haunted, scared shitless, etc. by this room which seems to really work him over more and more as the 1 hour time frame ticks down. Normally, a film which spends alot of time in one place would usually put one to sleep, this movie manages to do as much as possible to scare the crap out of you without ever leaving the room until late in the movie. There are also the usual weird things which one would expect to accompany a movie like this such as reality displacement, bleeding walls, alternate dimensions, things not happening in real time yet the audience thinking they are, etc. To top it all off, "1408" has a very likeable and intriguing subplot which involves Enslin and his estranged wife Lilly (Mary McCormack). I won't give this part of the movie away but I will say that this subplot connects all of the characters from Enslin to Olin, and even introduces a new character into the movie who fits snugly into the thick of the plot -- and adds further intrigue and mystery to the situation at hand. "1408" might be a bit slow for the younger audiences (those 15 and under). But for those 18-25 such as myself, it's the perfect blend of a solid story, adult horror, excellent performances, and real terror.
Positives: An excellent story, likeable characters (even Cusack as Enslin who becomes more and more likeable as the film goes on). Great scares, and some very trippy visuals.
Negatives: The overall jist of the movie can be taken in three different ways. After seeing this film, you'll probably see the situation from three different perspectives, and a certain character as either a good or bad man. Or maybe a little in between.
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