Don't Check in or Check Out 1408

1408 is the new John Cusack terror thriller involving a haunted hotel room. Remember "The Shining"? This story is also based on Stephen King's writings, unfortunately unlike the horror classic "The Shining," 1408 is missing that indefinable "x factor."

Mike Enslin (Cusack) is a writer who specializes in debunking ghost stories at famous hotels, large and small. Enslin prides himself on not finding any paranormal activities in his travels, but also profits from his books on "10 Haunted Hotels" "10 Scariest Retreats" etc. When he receives an anonymous invitation to room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel Enslin sets his sights on New York City and the Dolphin.

Samuel L. Jackson plays hotel manager Gerald Olin, an ominous figure who provides fair warnings on the horror, terror and danger room 1408 holds. Mike Enslin, the ever nonbeliever, ignores warnings and decides to stay in the paranormal room in order to demystify the legend. Unfortunately no one lasts longer than an hour in 1408, and the previous 56 mysterious deaths are a strong testament to the adverse health reactions the room seems to allow.

Soon after entrance into the room, unexplainable events occur. Enslin the stereotypical nonbeliever justifies and gives reason to the occurrences, but soon is faced with true fear and inexplicable horror at his situation in the quaint hotel suite.

Unfortunately, this film falls short of any true scare tactics. It provides some interesting scenes with ghosts superimposed over the filmed room, and changes in lighting and reflections. Where 1408 comes up short are the various holes in the story. There is no true connection between the unexplained and Mike Enslin's personal stories of losing a daughter, and the disconnect between his father and him explained in a previous novel. If the plot is going to bother to bring up family dysfuntionality, perhaps it should better connect it to the overall story. There is also the unexplained anonymous invite provided at the beginning of the movie, was it offered by Samuel L. Jackson's character, who also appeared strangely unworldly?

Plot holes sink this film, which will no doubt remain towards the top of the box office for a couple more weeks. Audiences seem to be very forgiving with badly done horror films. Cusack does well in this film, but unfortunately can't overcome the convenient plot mishaps. Stephen King, and subsequently screenplay writers Matt Greenberg and Scott Alexander, skipped around storylines erratically and adds irrelevant plot elements that could easily be left out, or at least altered. Stick with "The Shining," and check out of 1408.