Hell fuckin yeah. You know you never really know what you're getting into when you go into a Steven King adaptation. Some are the quality of The Shining, The Stand, Shawshank Redemption, Misery and Carrie. Others are like Christine. And sometimes you get Dreamcatcher.
That said. This shit is my movie of the week. John Cusak plays King's favorite type of character - an alcoholic author suffering from a loss. In this case Mike Enslin is a one time successful author turned author of America's favorite haunted places. Mike goes from bed and breakfast to hotel looking for hauntings, yet coming up with nothing.
'Til he gets a postcard from the Dolphin Hotel
Mike receives a mysterious postcard warning him not to check into 1408.
And of course Mike being curious, skeptical and white, he does.
Sam Jackson, who plays a great hotel manager, Gerald Olin warns him. Pleads with him not to check into 1408...even telling him that no one lasts more than an hour.
He even offers him 800 dollar booze.
Mike still says,"nay." Check me in.
And Mike does. And the fun begins...with the Carpenters singing on the radio, " We've only just begun..."
1408 is the kind of horror movie they don't make right now. One that is suspenseful, intelligent and has fx at the right moments. For the most part, it is a one-man show with John Cusack. And he rocks the house...or in this case - the hotel.
1408 is so far my favorite movie of the summer...if I extend it into the spring movies then Grindhouse would be number one, then 1408. Go see it.
THAT WAS MY REVIEW BACK WHEN 1408 OPENED.
After viewing it on DVD I really like this movie a lot.It will go down as one of my favorite movies of this year. The DVD set is well worth it. There is an alternate director's cut on there which I may have liked more than the original ending. The commentaries are great. And look for the behind the scenes look at how they made 1408 come to life.
And Sam Jackson is still the shit. Damn he's good.
DVD: FOUR BALL POINT PENS
DVD EXTRAS: FOUR AND A HALF BALL POINT PENS