Many of the films that borrow from the works of Stephen King are hit or miss. Secret Window, Dreamcatcher, Hearts in Atlantis and The Green Mile are just some of the more recent ones, but only the last one could be considered a real success. The premise of 1408 doesn’t make it stand out special amongst the rest: a story about an author who investigates haunted hotels and then finally finds a haunted one feels like an unoriginal cliché. But thanks in part to the always enjoyable performances of John Cusack (The Contract) and Samuel L. Jackson (Home of the Brave), as well as a rather fresh take on an old subject, 1408 is a must-see for horror fans and a quality film all around.
Mike Enslin (Cusack) like many of us doesn’t actually believe in ghosts or goblins. Unlike most of us though, he has visited and stayed in nearly every famous haunted hotel to write his books and cash his paychecks. He’s a jaded, distant character who clearly has a lot of history he doesn’t plan on going back to. When room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel in Manhattan finds his liking, he visits despite the manager Mr. Olin (Jackson) threatening certain death within his first hour in the room. 56 deaths have preceded Enslin, and Olin just doesn’t want to have to clean up another mess.
The dialogue alone between the great actors is worth the film, with plenty of wit and one-liners to go around. “You do drink, don’t you?” Olin asks. “Yes of course I do I just told you I’m a writer,” Enslin responds. And later, “Oh you know my book?” Enslin asks. “Of course I do, they aren’t hard to find,” Olin responds. “They can be found on the discount shelf of any local bookstore.”
Combined with a compelling back-story, and an usual witty smirk toward the usual fright gags and creepy soundtrack, 1408 succeeds as a scary film that’s more than just about “an evil f—-ing room,” as only Jackson could put it.
Contact reporter
Adam Z. Winer at awiner42@umd.edu.