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Plot:
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
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I've never seen a film quite like 1408. I suppose it's got to be one of the best horror movies ever made. But can you call this film a "horror"? Well, it's not the horror movie we're used to seeing in this day and age. The films that are supposed to scare us nowadays are made from the same recycled junk we've been seeing for years now. Nonsensical plots are dreamed up just to make use of the exciting range of CGI. Underdeveloped characters we don't care about are tortured/murdered by a psycho for no apparent reason. Most of the intended audience for these movies isn't even scared anymore.
Let me tell you, 1408 is different. Its main intention is not to scare you (though it undoubtedly will); it wants to tell you a story. It doesn't start out as a scary movie. John Cusack plays cult writer Mike Enslin, a man who visits supposed haunted spots in order to debunk their reputations in the mildly-successful books he writes with titles such as "10 Nights in Haunted Hotels". When the room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York is brought to his attention, research tells him that the death tally in the room is in the double digits. He sees the room as a solid ending chapter for the new book he's working on.
The film is based on a Stephen King short story, which I had the pleasure of reading before I saw the film. While the film does take its creative liberties, it never forgets where it comes from. Writers Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karazewski seem to be very well-read on the author, and the movie always feels just like Stephen King--if you've ever read him, you know what I'm talking about. There have been times when I've been reading a novel of his and had to tell myself, "Calm down, it's just a book." There are moments in this film of such mind-gnawing anxiety, such high-adrenaline terror that I had to tell myself, "Calm down, it's just a movie." (Note: Stephen King does recommend the film.)
Director Mikael Håfström never takes his audience's intelligence for granted. We're never beaten over the head with the same thing; the film is always headed somewhere new and exciting. The innovative ideas here are just terrific.
John Cusack is brilliant as the cynical writer with a tragic past. He's never unbelievable, and he always nails the character down perfectly. There was never a time when I wasn't rooting for Mike Enslin in 1408. There was never a time when I did not want him to get out of the room. Cusack's emotional range is really put into play here, and the casting could not have been any more dead-on.
Samuel L. Jackson gives a chilling performance as a manager who is intent on not letting Mike enter room 1408. His determination to convince Mike not to enter the room only fuels Mike's determination to enter it. Through him, we pick up on the facts about the room Mike's research couldn't provide. His warnings give us chill bumps but leave enough open so that we still don't know what we're in for.
And with room 1408, you never really know what you're in for. Who am I to ruin it for you? Just know that this is not a mystery. We will not come to understand why the room is the way it is. There are, of course, those who will be disappointed by 1408--because when all is said and done, they will find it's not a movie about a freaky hotel room, but rather the man who's trapped in that hotel room and what he finds there.
the plot was good but the movie wasnt as scary as i expected ... a way to go but john cusack steals the show as the horror novelist visiting haunted places and documenting the events happening there....but on the whole the movie was good ...the climax coulda been better
Another suspense thriller that is full of promises and doesn’t deliver.
Frank Darabont is still the only director able to make great movies out of Stephen King’s writings.
Cusack, my favorite actor of all time, in a another top notching film. I thought his performance in t his was great.
Sounds interesting, even though the storyline seems very similat to another very interesting horror movie, "In the Mouth of Madness".
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I love this movie!!!!
Its not that scary, but still keeps your eyes on the screen
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.
i like the film because it's an stephen king adaptation.....its scary..just cant imagine if i was on enslin's place............im just dissapointed with the sound effects...its sucks.........its an horror movie...but it sounds like its an action film..don't u think guys(whoever reading this )......?????????????
i loved it but its needs to be alittle more scary dont you think
I dont get scared easily..this film was scary in the aspect that it made me almost go insane by putting myself in enslins place..and it has a reality kick to it which makes it more scary..