A Well-Made, Entertaining Film About the Supernatural
Based on a short story by Stephen King, 1408 (2007) is a horror movie in the vein of The Shining (1980) and Misery (1990). There's almost no blood or gore in 1408, but it is creepy. Perhaps it is better described as a psychological thriller.
Strong acting is a major reason 1408 works so well. John Cusack is on camera almost all the time, and he is very good here. Samuel L. Jackson has a supporting role similar to others he's played in the past, and the long conversation between his character and Cusack's is one of the film's best scenes.
The early part of the movie is humorous. For example, Cusack wears a ball cap bearing the words, "Paranoia is total awareness." But beginning about 15 minutes in, the tone is adroitly shifted. The film is generally well paced, although it would have sustained its mood better if it had been at least 10 minutes shorter.
A Nonbeliever in the Paranormal Gets His Comeuppance
The main character in 1408 is Mike Enslin (Cusack), who has become well-to-do by visiting scary places and writing them up, rating each one by giving it a number of skulls on his Shiver Scale. His latest best-seller is 10 Haunted Hotels. After he signs a copy for a reader, he sends them away with the parting shot, "Stay scared." But he's a cynic who doesn't believe in the supernatural.
As research for his next book, Enslin decides to spend a night in room 1408 of Manhattan's deluxe Hotel Dolphin at 2254 Lexington. The room is on the floor known as 14, but since the numbering scheme skips 13, the room is in fact on the thirteenth floor. And notice that 1 + 4 + 0 + 8 = 13 and 2 + 2 + 5 + 4 = 13. The hotel manager (Jackson) tells the writer that 56 people have died in room 1408 and serves him a cognac called Les Cinquante Sept Décès (translation: The 57 Deaths). But disregarding all the warning signs, Enslin goes into room 1408 and soon finds himself caught up in a hellacious ordeal.
Another dimension to Enslin's story involves his estranged wife (Mary McCormack), from whom he has been separated for a long time after a family tragedy. He also has feelings of guilt over his treatment of his father (Len Cariou), who appears in a macabre scene as a ghostly figure who paraphrases part of the well-known gravestone inscription that goes: "Pause, stranger, when you pass me by. / As you are now, so once was I. / As I am now, so will you be. / So prepare for death and follow me."
Extras on All DVD Editions
All DVD editions of 1408 contain the feature film as it was released in theaters. They also have a pair of Webisodes: a two-and-a-half-minute one in which star John Cusack talks about the movie and a two-minute one on the film's special effects. The only other bonus material on all DVD editions is 1408's theatrical trailer.
Blockbuster Exclusive DVD Extras
Blockbuster provides two exclusive extras on their 1408 DVDs. The bonus materials unique to the video rental giant are two alternate endings: a five-and-a-half-minute one that is more downbeat than the one shown in theaters and a five-minute one that differs only slightly from the theatrical one.
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