1408 (2007)

Director:

Mikael Håfström

Writers (WGA):

Matt Greenberg (screenplay) and
Scott Alexander (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 kesäkuu 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on the terrifying story by Stephen King

Plot:

A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Writer | Debunking | Death | Stephen King

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Mike Enslin
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Gerald Olin
Mary McCormack	...	Lily
Tony Shalhoub	...	Sam Farrell
Len Cariou	...	Mike's Father
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Hotel Engineer
Jasmine Jessica Anthony	...	Katie
Paul Birchard	...	Mr. Innkeeper
Margot Leicester	...	Mrs. Innkeeper
Walter Lewis	...	Book Store Cashier
Eric Meyers	...	Man #1 at Book Signing
David Nicholson	...	Man #2 at Book Signing
Holly Hayes	...	Lady at Book Signing
Alexandra Silber	...	Young Woman at Book Signing
Johann Urb	...	Surfer Dude

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language.

Runtime:

104 min | 112 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43561) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Finland:K-13 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Malaysia:18PL | Italy:T | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Chile:Y7 | Argentina:13 | France:U (with warning) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Israel:16 | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | South Africa:13V | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Denmark:15

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

There are many references to the number "13" throughout the movie. The room is numbered "1408", add each number together equals 13. The room is on the 14th floor, and the Hotel skips the 13th floor, so the room is technically on the 13th floor. The room's key lock also has "6214" etched into it, which adds up to 13. And the first death was in the year 1912, which adds to 13. Even the film's American release date sums to 13: June 22, 2007.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Mike discovers the turned-down bed (and the neat toilet roll in the bathroom), he switches off the radio. The cognac is perched right on the edge of the table. When he tries figuring out where the maid might be, the cognac has suddenly moved back.

Quotes:

Room 1408: Even if you leave this room, you can never leave this room!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#16.41)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

We've Only Just Begun

like a very good feature-length episode of the Twilight Zone: surrealism and 'gotchas' at every corner

It's a hit or miss thing with Stephen King movies. Sometimes there's an exceptional effort by someone with a really strong vision (eg Kubrick, De Palma), but then there are also some big blunders (Dreamcatcher comes first to mind). And then there are those that sort of lie right in the middle, as decent, unpretentious but unremarkable efforts that chill or spill into your living room or movie theater. 1408 isn't a great thriller, but for King fans it'll likely be one of the most faithful- or at least feel faithful- efforts to date, and as such it's pretty creepy and a sure-fire "gotcha" machine. The premise is vintage King: a cynical writer (Cusack) who's books go over the paranormal (with the exception of a personal book about a father and son), and gets sent an anonymous postcard about the Dolphin hotel and room 1408. The manager warns him, fervently, to not stay in the room. But he's insistent to the point where there's no turning back. Slowly, but extremely surely, things start popping up in the room, out of Elsin's own consciousness, perhaps, and as well with the environment changing (fix that heater!), and even a pint-sized version of the hotel manager (who doesn't want to see Jackon ala Indian in the Cupboard?).

It all leads up to a few good twists and turns, but good being the important word here. Unlike the unsuccessful pot-boiler Identity, which also (regrettably) starred Cusack, this isn't contrived for the sake of it. The sudden images of a man with an ax swinging at Elson, the images of ghosts jumping out of the windows (one of them, which I found extraordinary, was shown with the same marks that come with an old movie print), isolation enhanced by a lack of windows to either side, and that bottle of booze. Spiked? Probably not- this is a thrill-ride predicated on lightning-fast imagery, but too fast (it isn't Saw thank goodness), and Elsin's past, notably the death of his daughter. It's usually a conceit that the filmmaker puts in to have the central character to have a dark past loaded with sadness, but here it works effectively in how gradually it all comes out, and how the fear/acceptance of death is something just as, if not more-so, terrifying than anything else the room has to offer.

As I said, not a great film, as sometimes it has that feel of an all-too well-oiled machine by director Mikael Håfström, edging on feeling like there's a checklist somewhere of things to happen in the room to Elsin. But, as mentioned, it doesn't come off as being too unsurprising. On the contrary, there is some originality to how the special effects team- via Cusack, going through many modes of acting like it's a powerhouse audition- bring out the best of what can be offered with a horror-show amusement park. It may be in part like a ghost house, but it's a fun and exciting one, and more watchable than any other PG-13 horror film I've seen in a while. 7.5/10