Movie Review: 1408 (2007)

1408 is a movie based on a short story by Stephen King. It’s the rare modern PG-13 horror movie that actually works, and is quite terrifying. It follows an author, Mike Enslin (John Cusack, Say Anything), who goes about debunking popular supernatural events. He receives an anonymous postcard informing him of the Dophin hotel in New York City, and of room 1408, which he of course asks to stay in.

The hotel’s manager, Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson, Pulp Fiction), ends up having a larger role than you’d expect, considering most of the movie involves Enslin locked in room 1408. Both actors do great jobs, and this movie — along with Grosse Point Blank and High Fidelity — really made me finally appreciate Cusack’s talent. He’s fantastic here.

The movie has plenty of twists — maybe a few too many — and does not have the most satisfying ending. It’s still a great thrill ride, and a legitimately scary picture. There have definitely been a lot of bad Stephen King film adaptations, but a lot of good ones as well, and this is definitely one of the good ones.

Rating: 7/10