Movie Review: 1408

A movie based on a story is always a questionable affair. More often than not, the movie is an underwhelming experience (Dreamcatcher, Lawnmower Man, Sleepwalkers). He has his good adaptations as well (The Shining, Carrie, Misery). So, it was definitely going to be a toss up how this was going to turn. It does have a good cast in its favor with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Early word was good, and the trailers were also good. Well, after sitting through the movie, I am pleased to report that it delivers the goods, smartly written, creepy in execution, eerie in closure.

This is the second film this summer that finds the vast majority of its action set inside a single hotel/motel setting. The first being the William Friedkin thriller Bug. Both that and 1408 rest squarely on the shoulders of its stars to carry the story. John Cusack has the advantage of being in a film with a story that requires the use of effects, so he has a little bit of a crutch that Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon did not have in their outing. Both of these films succeed in creating supremely creepy atmospheres, albeit in different ways. They do have one thing in common, they both have central characters that are losing their minds in quite spectacular fashion. That, however is about as far as the similarities go.

John Cusack stars as Mike Enslin, an author who has made a living out of writing books on supposedly haunted locations. As the film opens, he is on a book tour for his latest release, a collection of haunted hotels. After this initial setup, we follow Mike as he gets his mail only to find a postcard telling him not to enter room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel. This, of course, piques his interest, and he does a little research and discovers the dark history related to this room. Sensing a great subject for a new novel, he sets off to New York to see for himself.

Once at the hotel, Enslin has to deal with Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), hotel manager. Gerald does not want Enslin to enter that room. Enslin insists, eventually winning the battle of wits. Once in the room, the real fun begins.

The tale offers up a lot to be inferred, lots of clues dropped, mainly surrounding our central character. A lot is hinged on Mike's not believing in God, his disbelief of true supernatural occurences, and being emotionally distant. All of this stems from the death of his daughter, something that Mike has never been able to deal with on any level. Rather than deal with any real world issues surrounding his person, he throws himself into his work of writing the cheap thrills of haunted locations, seeking to debunk them. The room in the Dolphin Hotel is intent on proving the reality behind the supernatural, as well as making Mike come to terms with his own demons.

John Cusack is excellent in the lead role, and he really has no choice, a lesser performance would sink the project. Cusack spends most of the running time by himself, trapped inside the haunted room. He brings dry humor, cynicism, remorse, disbelief, and more into the performance of a man slowly going out of his mind. It is powerful, captivating, and utterly convincing. Samuel L. Jackson does a fine job in a smaller role, having one great scene when he and Cusack have a little sparring session over staying in the evil room.

Directed by Mikael Hafstrom and shot by Benoit Delhomme, 1408 looks great. There is a confined sense of dread as we move into the room through a keyhole shot of a lock mechanism. The room moves through the levels of Dante's inferno with a very hot cycle, a frozen cycle, all plended with a series of jumpscares that work, as well as visions and appearances of prior tenants and family members. It is all quite stylish.

The movie, as the screenplay is written (and surely the story as well), leaves a lot of questions and a lot of hints as to the nature of the room and of the main character's past. It does not treat the audience poorly, never underestimating them (us). It leaves a lot open to interpretation, right up until the ending, beginning with a twist that started to make me think less of the film, but ultimately works in its advantage. It is a well written thriller that rests on the strength of its central character. It has effects, but they are not a crutch.

Bottomline. This is one of the better King adaptations to hit the big screen. It is supremely creepy, makes you question all that you see and will put you on edge. It is strengthened by its strong performances, is buoyed by great cinematography, and is just a lot of fun. Perfect? No, there is always opportunity for more depth, which is probably its biggest fault. Questions are good, to an extent.

Recommended.