1408

If I could be any writer, it would have to be Stephen King. Imagine the dough this guys pulls in not only through his best-selling novels, but also through the 100+ films/TV shows that have been adapted from his works.

1408 is yet another one of Stephen Kings stories to join the likes of The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, Pet Cemetery, Carrie etc. etc. etc. on the silver screen.

1408 follows Mike Enslin (John Cusack), a morose author with a tragic past, who writes novels about paranormal experiences a.k.a encounters with the supernatural.

Though having visited most of the fabled haunted sites (and having churned out countless books about how ‘scary’ they were), Enslin hasn’t actually encountered anything supernatural at all.

That is until he is directed to room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel - possibly the most evil room known to man - which makes up for all his uneventful ‘haunted building’ visits…and then some.

Admittedly, I haven’t read Stephen King’s short story from which this film is adapted. So in terms of how successful an adaptation it is, I have no idea, but in terms of a horror flick I can tell you with all certainty; 1408 is some seriously scary stuff.

Though nearly the entire film is set in just one room with one character, the tension in the cinema is unbelievable – even the idiot in the back row who kept letting out enormous burps during the previews was quiet as a mouse once the film got going.

The story jumps straight into the frights, with some very simple, yet very unsettling methods employed to get viewers inching closer to those sitting next to them.

The film does demand a small amount of patience from the audience however, as Enslin’s back-story is revealed slowly and in dribs and drabs. Initially we begin with a character who is really an A-hole, but we’ve no idea why (you can’t help but wonder if Cusack is a A-hole in real life cos he sure plays the part well!).

Only through what the creepy – and very well informed – room makes Enslin experience and re-live, do we find out about our character’s sad past, and even then some parts are more so hinted at then fully explained.

This can make for very interesting, or very frustrating viewing; lucky for me I fell into the ‘interested’ category.

Cusack does a fine job with his ‘tour-de-force’ role. It’s a nice change to see a hero that isn’t young, overly mobile and that carries a little poundage. It made it even more realistic (if that’s possible in a Stephen King story), and scary having a lead character that is so overtly human.

Enslin is totally vulnerable and doesn’t bounce back from wounds, either physical or emotional, like some machine. As viewers, we were faced with the real possibility that this guy might not make it. This made the film all the more engaging.

It’s also a relief to have a horror film that doesn’t resort to gore in order to get cheap scares: the alarm clock did it for me.

Despite my glowing remarks however, it must be remembered that this is Stephen King, and that name is synonymous with ‘odd’ and…well…let’s be honest; ‘far fetched’. So if you’re a realist or a conventionalist you might wanna steer clear of this one.

There is also one facial expression close to the end which our hero gives us that doesn’t quite make sense….you’ll hear people debating about it as they leave. It must mean something, brownie points to whoever can explain to me what it was about!

The Verdict: A very spooky, but fun romp. Far fetched of course, yet forgivably so. Character development does come slow though, so some patience is required, and you have to be willing to allow things to go unexplained. If so, then this is a flick for you! An adaptation I think Mr King can be happy with.