1408 - a Movie Review

1408 is a 2007 drama/horror movie starring John Cusack as Mike Enslin. Mike Enslin is a cynical writer who specializes in debunking supernatural phenomena. He learns about a haunted room at the Dolphin Hotel in New York City and despite numerous warnings of danger, he stays in the room number "1408." The movie is basically about the supernatural occurrences that Mike experiences in "1408." The first twenty minutes of the movie are spent learning about Mike's background and personality. The last 84 minutes occur in the haunted room.

The movie is based on a short story by Stephen King. I have heard the director's cut has a different ending but I have only seen the theatrical version. I was not impressed with the movie at all. I found the introduction boring, the haunting mediocre and not really scary, and the actors did not grab my attention. I was very disappointed with the movie. I have not read the short story but I am sure this movie does not do the story justice.

I have read numerous reviews saying that 1408 is one of the best horror movies ever. I must have watched a different movie because I didn't get that feeling at all. I am curious about the director's cut version but I doubt watching it will change my opinion drastically. 1408 is boring, boring, boring. The only redeeming factor is John Cusack. He is a great actor and really saves his character from being downright pathetic.

Samuel L. Jackson's part was just a waste of space. Samuel L. Jackson is a wonderful actor. The director could have done so much more with him. Instead he comes across as a condescending hotel manager in the ten minutes that he is actually in the film. Why is he on the movie poster when his part is so small? I felt like his part was a waste of his time. Anyone could have played the part of the hotel manager. It didn't really require much acting skill.

The movie is more drama then horror. Mike Enslin is skeptical and depressed because he lost his daughter to some illness. Boo hoo for him. Sorry but the movie didn't do enough to create any sympathy for his character. So to make his life complete he now travels around proving that there is no God, no ghosts, and no life after death. Well, I think I have seen way too many movies because that plot seems very familiar. Not only is the movie boring but it isn't very original. Side note: I am quite confident that Stephen King would never copy after anyone. He is a true original. It just makes me wonder how many people have borrowed from his short story to make the movie seem so familiar to me.

Perhaps reading Stephen King's short story would have helped me enjoy the movie more. On the other hand, I probably would have hated the movie even more because movies based on stories are hardly every consistent or comparable. I give the movie 1 star out of 5. The movie was just way too boring.