Christopher Carey, Eric Meyers, Jasmine Jessica Anthony

Renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin believes only in what he can see with his own two eyes. But after a string of best-sellers discrediting paranormal events in the most infamous haunted houses and g...( read more  read more... )raveyards around the world, he has no real proof of life--afterlife. But Enslin's phantom-free run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel for his latest project, "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms." Defying the warnings of the hotel manager, the author is the first person in years to stay in the reputedly haunted room. Another best-seller may be imminent, but first he must go from skeptic to true believer--and ultimately survive the night.

Flixster Users

61% liked it

711,748 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

162 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Mikael Håfstrom

Release Date: June 22, 2007

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DVD Release Date: October 2, 2007

Stats: 84,862 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (84,862)


  • November 17, 2009
    An instant classic. A stunning, shocking and mind-blowing edge of your seat thriller. Even at the end you'll still be amazed. It runs on pure fear-fuel. It's terifying and unforgettable. It's gripping, original and riveting. It's one of the best supernatural thrillers in a long t...( read more)ime and is also the best Stephen King adaptation in years. A bone-chilling, blood-curdeling and exhilerating. John Cusack is sensational, a tour-de force performance. Samuel L. Jackson gives a brilliant performance and yet he's only in a few scenes. A freightning and heart-pounding movie. A tremendous thrill and chill fest. It will knock you out and take your breath away. A brilliant and nerve-frying psychological mind-game that knows how to entertain. A till the end nail biter. An excellently well-crafted piece of satisfying excellence. An ingenious and adreniline-fulled rollar-coaster ride. Director, Michael Hafstrom's masterpiece, he carefully crafts most of this film in one area and makes it work. It's The Sixth Sense meets The Shining.
  • July 27, 2009
    Please note that this review refers to the theatrical version, and not the Director's Cut DVD release which features a completely different ending.

    Mike Enslin is a cynic. He is the author of books that detail and debunk popular ghost stories and haunted hot-spots, and it quickl...( read more)y becomes obvious that he is somewhat disenchanted with the life that he leads. That is, of course, until he receives an invitation to Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, a room in which lies his and arguably John Cusack's biggest challenge yet.

    It soon becomes apparent that 1408 is not your standard horror movie, as what follows, after an enjoyably creepy encounter with hotel manager Gerald Olin (Samuel L Jackson), is essentially 90 minutes of John Cusack in a room. On his own. Save for, of course, whatever lurks inside 1408. It is a challenge that Cusack rises to expertly; we all know he's a good actor and a brilliant everyman (I don't remember a film in which I've wanted to see him crash and burn), but 1408 allows him to display his range to great effect as the room confronts him with the physical dangers of the present and the emotional tragedies of his past.

    While it's relatively light on big scares, 1408 instead creates a powerful sense of unease that combines wonderfully with Cusack's portrayal of a man enduring his own private hell. Each challenge thrown up by the room takes the movie somewhere new and unexpected, ensuring that the movie never really gets tired or repetitive, and as a result each scene in the room is tense, surprising, and very, very creepy. However, that's not to say that it doesn't lose its way occasionally. Some of the CGI usage is quite ineffective, and about two-thirds through the movie it feels like it's about to go the wrong way, but it recovers well for the final act, and its haunting ending ensures that you'll remember it long after you leave the theatre.

    A brilliantly acted, well developed version of King's short story, 1408 is a different type of horror movie, but in all the right ways. Very good!
  • July 19, 2009
    This Stephen King adaption is a rather lame horror film in each and every regard. The acting and camera work can't be blamed, they are doing decent jobs here. The problem either seems to be the original story (that I don't know) or the adapted script, because if you have seen a h...( read more)andful of horror movies of the last 30 years there is not one surprise waiting for you in room 1408, I didn't even get startled a lot nor had shivers running down my spine. The end twist isn't much of one either, so the general feeling this movie left me with was: meh!
  • June 8, 2009
    I can never be truly afraid of a Stephen King movie as I know he just makes things up -- with never a concern with realism. In this case, Mike (John Cusack) is a scary-things author who doesn't believe that anything is actually paranormal. Of course that is until he runs into R...( read more)oom 1408.

    I have read different reviews, and wondered if we had seen the same movie. I checked with Wikipedia, and found that there are at least two very different endings on DVD. So you may have seen the ending that doesn't match with your idea of how it should end.
  • May 23, 2009
    "It's an evil fucking room."

    What Stephen King novels have not been made into movies? It just feels like it only needs his name and the movie is already in production. There aren't that many King adaptations that are actually good. 'The Shining', 'The Green Mile', 'Shawshank Red...( read more)emption' are all acclaimed movies but you must admit that most of his adaptations are down right bad, for example 'Dreamcatcher', Sleepwalkers' and 'Tommyknockers', just to name a few.

    Of course, in the end, it all depends on how talented the filmmakers are. How the screenwriter manages to transport the short story or novel to the big screen or how the director can hold it all together. I had big hopes for the movie, although I hadn't read the King story, because of the director Mikael Håfström, a talented Swedish filmmaker behind 'Ondskan' aka 'Evil'.

    But enough of the small talk about the history of King adaptations or the men behind '1408'. What about the movie? Is it any good? I'd say that '1408' is another Stephen King novel miss. The story is in a way interesting because of the paranormal element. But the film never gets that "scary", which is in my opinion a crucial thing if you're marketing the film as part of the horror genre.

    John Cusack, who's been a favourite of mine since 'Grosse Pointe Blank', is the key character in the movie. He stars as the author of "haunting tourist guides" and is basically in every scene of the film. Sam Jackson has his small but important part but '1408' is nothing but a one man show by Cusack. He does manage to perform well but the character ain't that interesting. But neither is the story. It never really gets going and I got a bit bored during the movie.

    '1408' delivers some nice scenes but never fulfills the expectations of horror fans. It doesn't give any thrills or chills but luckily the film does have a good pacing. I just hate movies that prolong the suffering of movie goers for nothing. I'd say that '1408' belongs in the OK category of King's movies but I'm still waiting for Håfström's first Hollywood hit.

    "Eight dollars for Beer Nuts? This room is evil!"
  • November 18, 2009
    reeeeeeeeally confusing lmaoo
  • November 15, 2009
    Starts out great! But, unfortunately, it dulls when the action starts to pick up.
  • November 15, 2009
    Horror like action films and romantic Comedies has fallen prey to the disease that is formula. There hasn't been a full blown, original horror film in a long time. But now I have faith the genre can be saved thanks to a film called, 1408.





    1408 is a notch above the reg...( read more)ular horror films It doesn't use overt use of gore and blood to tell it's story or to shock and scare you. Instead it use the basic techniques horror films of the 30's. 40's, 60's and early to late 70's used to scare people, psychological tension and terror. 1408 picks at your brain the minute Mike Enslin(John Cusack) steps into the room, it pry's , pokes and prods at your mind like a little kid poking a rat in a cage or a lion toying with it's prey. It's an amazing and truly horrifying evil little terror machine the likes of which has never been seen.






    John Cusack delivers an awesome performance as the distraught father and paranormal debunker, he brings allot of power and realism to a film that without him might have failed. Samuel L. Jackson is mind blowing as the believer of the cruse of 1408, Jackson gives off some serious energy and air of mystery in this and the truth of what he wants or even if he's involved. All in all the cast does amazing in this film and really helps make it more eerie and creepy with there great preformances.




    1408 is dark, eerie, brilliant, complex and utterly horrifying It's one of the most effective horror film made in the past twenty years. It's something you have to experience or can't truly feel the terror, and trust me you will feel the terror. All in all 1408 is one room you want to spend the night in. That's if you can survive the night.
  • November 15, 2009
    Why is the room haunted?
    The movie should have ended when he woke up on the shore, it would have so made sense. This way it is just scary for no reason. But it is also very morbid and insane in a disturbing kind of way, which I could easily relate to, considering my own nightmar...( read more)e sensations and inner fears...
  • November 14, 2009
    I know it's Stephen King's..but I totally hate the ending, 'nuff said.

Critic Reviews


June 22, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The movie attempts a false ending that doesn't quite work; the picture feels prolonged, dragged out, and its ennui lessens the impact of some of its more terrifying fillips. full review

June 22, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

1408 is one of the good Stephen King adaptations, one that maintains its author's sly sense of humor and satiric view of human nature. full review

June 22, 2007
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

An entertainingly hairy paranormal affair based on a King short story, 1408 sets up its star -- and its audience -- for a blood-curdling, bone-chilling night of horror. full review

June 22, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

If I ever check into a hotel room and the clock radio is playing the Carpenters, I'm going to freak out. full review

June 22, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

When it comes to Hollywood's treatment of his works, Stephen King hasn't always hit the jackpot. But with this smart and highly entertaining ghost story his luck may change. full review

June 21, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Swedish director Mikael Hafsrom, who scored with Evil in 2003 and fizzled badly with Derailed two years later, seems to have regained his footing. full review

June 21, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

John Cusack is virtually a one-man show in the claustrophobically chilling 1408. full review

June 17, 2007
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

1408's mixture of supernatural hullabaloo and spiritual awakening is sturdily propped up by Cusack, whose performance is equal parts caustic cynicism and empathetic turmoil. full review

View more 1408 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • liliecv1
    March 29, 2009
    great
  • perfectgentlemn
    December 29, 2008
    An excellent creepy psychological thriller horror. I don't like to be a spoiler in my reviews, so.. let's just say. Go see this ! You'll like it ;-) Enjoy.
  • kristenzhere
    October 12, 2008
    this movie scared me so bad i wet my pants
  • movieaddict15
    October 2, 2008
    i thought it was a good movie because stephen king is my favorite author/writer..at first i so excited bcoz its like it wud keep thinking what's in that room..but the ending is very disappointing..it is...
  • clarky030
    May 30, 2008
    First real movie I have seen in awhile. Not all about the SFX or the unrealistic storyline. A truely watchable flick that makes and delivers no promises. One to watch if you can appreicate a good movie. Not for for those looking for cheap thrills, but for true movie buffs.
  • thesouthernlady
    February 11, 2008
    I thought it would be better, but it was the biggest disappointment I have ever saw. The beginning gets you all excited then when you start to see the horror part you are like thats it, please. To me, it was a waste of money. I say little kids about 2 or 3 can watch this movie. It should be rated G. I like horror where it scares you to death.
  • annielalala
    February 5, 2008
    I love this movie!!!!

    Its not that scary, but still keeps your eyes on the screen
  • PJDes
    December 20, 2007
    Finally a good movie! There's a good storyline and the tension is at the right level. You can feel it if something is going to happen, but you don't jump a mile off your seat. It has a good ending, which confirms that everything that happened in that room was real.

    P.S.: I've read some posts saying John Cusack died, but that's not true...try watching the movie better next time.
  • margowijnen
    December 18, 2007
    The movie was complecatid but note bad !
  • linzapoo666
    December 12, 2007
    Loved this movie,The end Wasnt what I excpectd though

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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1408 Trivia


  • What is the horror that lies inside the forbidden hotel room in the movie 1408?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the hotel in the 2007 thriller "1408" with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson?  Answer »
  • who plays the hotel manager in 1408?  Answer »
  • In the movie 1408,who plays th dolphon hotel manager?  Answer »

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