1408 begins with our titular hero and novelist, Mike Enslin (Cusack), driving through the rain in search of a haunted bed & breakfast. After checking in, we see Enslin with his paranormal tools trying to debunk the rumored haunting of this place. Shifting to a bookstore signing, we see Enslin’s fan base (which doesn’t consist of many people) as they grill him with questions of the paranormal. He’s written several books about haunted locales but has yet to be spooked. A girl brings up a weathered copy of his first novel, a playfully re-worded title of another Stephen King classic The Long Walk which was penned under Richard Bachman, and she asks if the story was true…Enslin hesitates for a moment then shakes his head saying no while we see he’s holding something personal back.
He returns to his Venice beach environment and receives a strange postcard from the Dolphin Hotel in New York. On the back it says “Don’t stay in 1408”. After a call to his editor, Tony Shaloub, he’s checked into the hotel. Upon his arrival, hotel management is notified and Gerald Olin (Jackson), greets him in the lobby. Pulling him into his office, he bribes Enslin with expensive alcohol and begs him not to stay in 1408. Enslin responds with his never-been-spooked schtick and rattles off the research he’s done on the room. All of the suicides that occurred over the years as Olin mentions all of the unreported natural deaths that they did not need to legally disclose. This piques Enslin’s curiosity as Olin explains that no one has lived more than one hour while staying in the room.
Skeptical as he is, Enslin insists that he stay in that room. Olin’s parting words regarding that he doesn’t care about Enslin or the hotel but he’s concerned with the clean-up after the hour is over is pretty haunting. This seems to even get under Enslin’s skin.
Refusing to get off the elevator, Olin bids a menacing farewell to Enslin as he walks to the room and disappears inside. Once inside—
Given a summer plagued with sequels, I decided to not ruin this gem of a film. I was skeptical as I wandered into this movie. I loved Cusack in 2003’s Identity and I have to say, that’s the only reason why I went to see this. I expected nothing given the current crop of terrible horror films and the PG-13 rating. The last PG-13 horror film I saw and loved was The Mothman Prophecies. I assure you that 1408 delivers the thrills and story audiences will appreciate. The writing is top-notch and directing by Hafstrom (Derailed) is quite impressive. Cusack performs a helluva one-man show and carries it through to the end.
I must admit that at one point I was ready to hurl my bottle of water at the screen and yell; but I looked at my watch and remembered the running time and that the film wasn’t quite over…(you’ll know what I’m talking about when you get to that point and think you figured out the twist). Knowing that, keep your ass in the seat and let the film finish, you’ll be quite surprised.
Eli Roth has been whining publicly lately while saying that horror films are dead. This is far from true. A true filmmaker simply needs to have a good story intact and 1408 is a great story. One begins to wonder why Bob & Harvey Weinstein didn’t go with Roth’s vision on this film or maybe they didn’t see any talent within the self proclaimed auteur.
Amidst of summer of sequels, I can only suggest is that you avoid them and check into room 1408.
– Jack Reher
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
