John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson star in this disappointing horror thriller based on a story by Stephen King about a writer, Mike Enslin (Cusack) who is trying to come to terms with the death of his young daughter, who spends his time trying to prove (or is it disprove) theories about ghosts and the afterlife. He receives an anonymous postcard warning him not to stay in room 1408 of The Dolphin Hotel and of course, he accepts the challenge.
When he arrives at the hotel the manager (Jackson) tries every thing he can to put him off stating that no-one has ever lasted longer than one hour in room 1408. Mike discovers that many people have died in the room but chalks it up to superstition and publicity for the hotel, so checks in and is forced to spend the most terrifying night of his life in the titular room…a night which may be his last.
The film starts off moody and atmospheric and is set up nicely thanks to Sam Jackson’s talents as a storyteller, before descending into run of the mill boo scares that only 12 year old girls will find even the least bit frightening.
OVERALL SUMMARY
The cast are alright, the story is alright, the direction is alright. I had high hopes for this movie, I really, truly did, but it was a mediocre spook fest at most. I’m not in a hurry to see this again but if I were you I’d wait for DVD, you really aren’t missing that much.
