Much like the jaded writer of haunted house
travel books in the film, most will enter 1408 quite
convinced that they will not be fooled by the tricks and methods of a
well-worn genre spook fest.
And, again, much like said jaded writer - you are in for one pleasant,
and downright creepy surprise!
Adapted
from a short story by King (I have to admit, I was very worried when I
heard they were mining King's short stories for material), 1408 follows
renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin (John Cusack) who believes only in
what he can see with his own two eyes.
After
a string of bestsellers discrediting paranormal events in the world's
most infamous haunted houses Enslin's phantom-free run is about to
change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin
Hotel for his latest project. Defying the warnings of
"56 deaths
and one self inflicted eye gouging" which have given the room such a
hideous history from the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin will
go from skeptic to true believer – and will confront his demons to
survive the night.
While many may see the "Stephen King" tagged onto the title as warning
enough - there is something strangely compelling and spooky about 1408 that is quite
unexpected. Early on, you certainly get the sense of "Didn't he already
do that in The Shining?"
and for the first thirty minutes or so of 1408 you really do
get the worried feeling that it might just be another slapdash
'Best-Of' (much like the woeful Dreamchatcher
from a few years ago, which combined The Shining and Stand By Me among
a slew of other King titles).
But once Enslin enters the room all
bets are off.
John
Cusack is simply fantastic here, bringing his usual charm and realistic
"every man" wit which keeps this paranormal story firmly grounded in
reality. The more obvious 'creepy' scenarios (ghosts, bleeding walls)
are met by Enslin just as the audience does (like we've all encountered
these tactics a thousand times) - making the real scares (when
they arrive) even more disturbing and gripping.
Director,
Mikael Hafstrom, gives quite a compelling visual sense to the internal
struggle of Enslin (a man already tortured by a painful past), never
giving into the 'Eli Roth School of Gore' - concentrating on the sheer
confusion and fear the mind can dangerously possess.
While the
ending may leave punters a little unsatisfied (there's perhaps one
twist too many - the final tag leaving you slightly confused as to what
the conclusion is: real, fake, delusion, confusion or hallucination)
there is a good deal of mind torturing entertainment packed into it's
104 minute running time.
Enter 1408
- if you dare...
3.5 out
of 5
1408
Australian release: 6th December, 2007
Cast:
John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack Director: Mikael Hafstrom
Website:Click
here.
