1408
Horror travel writer Mike Enslin has written about it all… but he’s never seen a thing.
One day he is invited to stay in room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel in NYC, where according to hotel manager Gerald Olin “no one has lasted an hour”… and the ‘several’ deaths that have occurred within is actually 56.
So he accepts the invitation, and what is in store for him, is something he has never witnessed, and may not survive!
Direction
Directed by Mikael Håfström who I have previously reviewed in his 2005 thriller Derailed. I thought he did a solid effort, especially with the use of colours.
The film starts off bright and energetic, and then as Mike enters the Dolphin Hotel, the colours become more sinister, like the over saturation of yellows.
I particularly enjoyed the 360 spin in the first conversation between Cusack and Jackson that really added to the unease that was to follow.
There is also some good use of different camera angles, and lens types (such fishbowl/peephole).
Cast/Characters
John Cusack plays against type in his first real foray into the world of horror.
He spends a majority of the film by himself on screen, and sells the genuine terror that Mike is going through throughout, as he literally ‘goes through hell’ in water/ice and fire during his time in 1408.
Samuel L Jackson plays the role of Gerald Olin. This is one of Jackson’s more ‘safer’ roles that he walks in and out of at times.
Ironically they would team up again several years later in another Horror film by Stephen King, Cell in 2016 (not yet reviewed).
Mary McCormack plays Mike’s ex wife Lily, and Len Cariou plays his father in flashbacks/hallucinations.
Breakdown
The film did a few things quite well, and one was the pacing. Mike’s persona, including his skepticism of his own line of work (as well as the disbelief that his audience has on his work) his introduced well.
His “invitation” to the Dolphin Hotel (by who we never discover) – and finally his arrival in the room take almost half an hour, so we feel like we really know who he is as a person prior to the doors closing.
One thing I thought the film did poorly was how quickly Mike became ‘rattled’ by the room. His first real inclination that something is amiss happens at the 40m mark – just 10 minutes of screen-time after his arrival. More should have gone wrong before he really started to go into the ‘tailspin’ that follows.
Another well written addition is Mike’s history, with his (not quite) ex wife, and deceased daughter. Especially now as a father of a pre teen daughter myself, I couldn’t help but feel genuine emotion at this part.
As it is based on a Stephen King novel, there are clever uses of numbers within that are either briefly seen on screen, such as 1408 (numbers = 13) the address of the building is 2254 (total =13) as well as some others.
There is also some good additions of “misdirection” in the bottle of whiskey that Olin gives to Enslin whether he is being drugged and is hallucinating. This, as well as his “escape” and one of the greatest gotcha moments will leave you shocked! I know I was the first time I watched this!
While somewhat tame in the violence department, it is more of a psychological thriller/horror – as Mike confronts his past (relationship with his wife, father – loss of his daughter). He is also frequently subject to witnessing the many past inhabitants of room 1408 – and how they “decided to leave”.
Overall
The strong performance by Cusack, as well as well paced tension and that “gotcha” ending give it bonus. A solid recommend.
3.5/5
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3.5/5