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1408
Feature Film Review
by Tricia Urlaub
Does God exist? Does the devil exist? These are questions a bit too great for the likes of a movie like 1408, but they're not completely off the mark. Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is suffering from the death of his daughter. Believing that he and his wife could have done more to save her than to "fill her head with lies" about Heaven, Mike searches for signs of the hereafter, combing the country's most self-proclaimed supernatural hot spots. What does he find? Nothing. Nada. The closest he can come to paranormal activity is a "thickness in the air," (which of course could be ascribed to a change in humidity levels).
And then, as if fallen from Heaven itself, he receives a postcard "Do not enter 1408," sent to him from the Dolphin Hotel in New York City. Who sent this card to him? It isn't known throughout the movie, perhaps the room 1408 itself? Regardless, Mike is intrigued from the start when he immediately realizes the room numbers add up to 13. (Ooooohhh....)
Mr. Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), the Hotel's manager, vehemently objects to Enslin staying in room 1408. Over the course of the hotel's 95-year history, there have been 56 natural, and unnatural deaths in that particular room. No sane person would want to stay there, and more importantly, Olin does not want to have to clean up "the mess."
Enslin is persistent and while in the room experiences a rash of terrors and frights that will make you jump (if you haven't already seen them in the trailers); along with others that will make you cry. Thanks to King's boundless reserve of fright techniques, the film is genuinely engaging.
Cusack's performance is believable as the bored, self-important and many times humorous supernatural author. Jackson is always satisfying to watch, and in his role as Dolphin Hotel Manager, his respect for room 1408 is as real and palpable as a lion-tamer with a chair.
With superior being a bright full moon, this movie rates:
© Urlaub, 2007
