1408 (DVD, 2007, Full Frame)

John Cusack checks into Room 1408 at Manhattan's posh Dolphin Hotel and finds that the joint is jumpin' with ghosts who will do their damnedest to make sure the dude will not get out alive.
It's a hellish premise, just the wicked mastery you expect from Stephen King, whose short story gives this mindbender its spine. King's recent work has been royally botched onscreen (hello, Secret Window, Needful Things and Dreamcatcher). Not this time. For that all praise to Cusack, who brings his welcome smartass savvy to the role of Mike Enslin, the author of bestsellers that debunk the idea of things that go bump in the night. Mike has his own demons, notably the death of his daughter (Jasmine Jessica Anthony), a tragic event that shattered his marriage to Lily (Mary McCormack).

He makes Mike's cynicism palpable as he checks into Room 1408 despite the objections of hotel manager Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), who informs him that more than fifty people have died trying to spend the night there. Just to hear Jackson intone the line -- "it's an evil f**** room" -- is enough to shiver your timbers.

Swedish director Mikael Hafsrom, who scored with Evil in 2003 and fizzled badly with Derailed two years later, seems to have regained his footing. The mid-section of 1408 is saddled with tacky and needless special effects, but Hafstrom ratchets up the tension big time as Cusack pulls out all the stops in a performance way beyond frightfest duty.

The fact that 1408 is relatively free of gore has encouraged some critics to use it to attack what they call the torture porn of such directors as Hostel's Eli Roth. But Roth is a gifted filmmaker with his own goals and methods to achieve them. Hafstrom wisely takes the path King intended: to plumb the violence of the mind. Heebie-jeebies are guaranteed.

If you go out and buy this movie, you will not be disappointed! I just got this from blockbuster tonight!

Here's why. Stephen King's psychological horror rarely ever shows its face on the screen the way it appears in his writing. This movie captures a lot of the mental torture that Stephen King writes so well (embodied in room 1408). I typically always see Cusack as playing himself in every movie he's in. Fortunately, this role appeals to that character. I would say see it and judge for yourself. I specifically enjoyed the background music and director's choice of camera angles. I also appreciated the mix of surprise horror and psychological. All too often, a horror film loads up too much on one angle and is predictable at times. 1408 is a fresh perpective on horror, and needless to say a spectacular performance.

Great movie about a man who hunts supernatural things in order to prove that they don't exist. In his career he has never seen a ghost but has been to many places across the world claimed by people to be "haunted". While searching he receives a postcard in the mail telling him NOT to go to a hotel and stay in room 1408. Of course, he does. No one has lasted in the room for more then an hour. He plans on proving this place is also not haunted and agrees to stay in the room. Let's just say things get crazy.

I liked this movie as it was full of suspense and keeps your attention beginning to end. Alot happens in a night's stay in this particular room and John Cusack gives a great performance....I bought it as a keeper for my collection. If you haven't seen it, you should!!

BASED ON A STORY BY SUSPENSE MASTER STEPHEN KING,1408 IS A GRIPPING "ROLLER COASTER OF A HEAD TRIP." THAT WILL HAVE YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.