Morgan BellREVIEW: 1408
March 7th 2008 08:53
Directed: Mikael Hafstrom (Derailed)
Written: Screenplay based on short story by Stephen King
Starring: John Cusack (Identity, Americas Sweethearts, High Fidelity, Pushing Tin), Samuel L Jackson (Coach Carter, Unbreakable, A Time To Kill, Pulp Fiction). Mary McCormack (Dickie Roberts, K-Pax, Deep Impact, Private Parts)
John Cusack is Mike Enslin, a cynical writer who specializes in ghosts. Enslin is given an anonymous tip to go to the Dolphin Hotel and stay is Room 1408 where many horrific deaths have occurred. Samuel L Jackson is the creepy hotel manager who tries to convince Enslin not to enter the room, a tactic which proves to make Enslin only more determined. What goes on in Room 1408 is scary as hell and I literally jumped, gasped, bit my nails and clutched my hands over my mouth. The special and visual effects crew have done a fantastic job in creating an atmosphere of terror in a story which is basically just Mike Enslin versus The Room. The engaging aspect of this film is that we don't know if Enslins encounters are ghosts, drug-induced hallucinations, dreams, or elaborate pranks . . . and we spend the entire film trying to figure out who's behind it. I would recommend this film if you enjoyed The Others, or The Secret Window (another Stephen King adaptation) but unfortunately the ending lacked the impact of either of these suspense thrillers. The weak ending of 1408 doesn't entirely ruin it but I was expecting a lot better. Being a Stephen King story it of course features his signature motifs of the writer as the protagonist, the traumatic incident in their past being slowly revealed, a dwindling belief in god, the battle of good and evil, and an intangible and unexplainable dark force being the catalyst for self analysis and improvement. What is new is the superb dreamlike sets and the struggle to get a grasp on reality . . . over all it is more good than bad.
Written: Screenplay based on short story by Stephen King
Starring: John Cusack (Identity, Americas Sweethearts, High Fidelity, Pushing Tin), Samuel L Jackson (Coach Carter, Unbreakable, A Time To Kill, Pulp Fiction). Mary McCormack (Dickie Roberts, K-Pax, Deep Impact, Private Parts)
John Cusack is Mike Enslin, a cynical writer who specializes in ghosts. Enslin is given an anonymous tip to go to the Dolphin Hotel and stay is Room 1408 where many horrific deaths have occurred. Samuel L Jackson is the creepy hotel manager who tries to convince Enslin not to enter the room, a tactic which proves to make Enslin only more determined. What goes on in Room 1408 is scary as hell and I literally jumped, gasped, bit my nails and clutched my hands over my mouth. The special and visual effects crew have done a fantastic job in creating an atmosphere of terror in a story which is basically just Mike Enslin versus The Room. The engaging aspect of this film is that we don't know if Enslins encounters are ghosts, drug-induced hallucinations, dreams, or elaborate pranks . . . and we spend the entire film trying to figure out who's behind it. I would recommend this film if you enjoyed The Others, or The Secret Window (another Stephen King adaptation) but unfortunately the ending lacked the impact of either of these suspense thrillers. The weak ending of 1408 doesn't entirely ruin it but I was expecting a lot better. Being a Stephen King story it of course features his signature motifs of the writer as the protagonist, the traumatic incident in their past being slowly revealed, a dwindling belief in god, the battle of good and evil, and an intangible and unexplainable dark force being the catalyst for self analysis and improvement. What is new is the superb dreamlike sets and the struggle to get a grasp on reality . . . over all it is more good than bad.
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