A
supernatural writer in California named
Mike Enslin (John Cusack) tries to
discover a hotel down in New York at the
Dolphin Hotel in a room number 1408 where
people didn't check out and have died in
and claims to be deadly haunted and
posessed although he doesn't believe in
ghosts ghe tries to spend the night there
to see if anything happens for his latest
book Enslin.
Well suddenly an alarm clock goes off
giving him a countdown as well as him
being badly hurt with the hotel window
slamming onto his hand.
He realises that he can't leave the hotel
and experiences all sorts of terror there
including his past too which drives him
insane almost making him feel suicidal.
Ahh yes another
film based on Stephen King's short
stories Everything's Eventual.
This almost borrowed in the same
tradition as the Shining
too.
The
story is both supernatural and
psychological. Truly creepy stuff too.
If you like both then this film is for
you as this seems to be the kind of
horror people like nowadays.
The acting is
terrific especially by lead actor John
Cusack as he shopws his intensity
terrifically as a writer trapped in the
room. He really took the bull by it's
horns with this character.
Mary McCormack is also great in her
role as his wife and really knows her
stuff.
Child actress Jasmine Jessica Anthony
does so well as someone with a heath
issue that you want to protect her.
There are pictures
as well as hallucinations of people
bloodily murdered.
Mikael Håfström
does a splendid job with this film and
can make it truly scary in lots of
scene's.
There was a perfect dialogue sequence
between Cusack and Jackson
when they first meet at the hotel.
Jackson was directed
terrifically with his firm attitude
making it seem intimidating.
There's a perfect setting in the hotel
room when Cusack tries to set
things up to see if anything happens and
it's just too still and quiet.
There's also a great camera shot of him
looking out his hotel room window and
it's a long way down which gives you the
chills for sure if you're scared of
heights.
There's also many scenes that will make
you jump like an alarm clock in the room
going off when it's so quiet or a ghost
attacking Cusack's character
too.
Håfström directed Cusack's
insanity terrifically when he loses
his mind being stuck in the room
especially his aggression seeing a
hallucination in a refrigerator and he
acts violent about it.
There are real touching sequences with
him, McCormack
and Anthony during flashback
segments of them together trying to be a
family but yet so many dysfunctions
happen.
This dude offers alot of mind boggling
twists and turns in this film and you
wonder what the hell is going on?!?
The music was
nicely orchestrated with lots of other
creepy sounds by Gabriel Yared as
it sounds very horror like and
professional sounding.
Gerald
Olin: You do drink don't you?
Mike Enslin: Of course. I just
said I was a writer.
Gerald
Olin: I will let you have this
[pats documents regarding 1408's
victims]
Gerald Olin: , give you access to
my office, you can take notes and put it
all in your book. My only condition is
that you do not stay in that room.
Mike Enslin: ...You'll let me look
at all that stuff?
[considering Olin's offer]
Gerald Olin: Hmm.
Mike Enslin: ...You know I never
did get that drink.
[Olin pours a glass of the 800$
whiskey, handing it to Enslin. Enslin
takes a sip]
Mike Enslin: Ooh, that is good.
Gerald Olin: [smiling]
Here, keep it. Compliments of the house.
[hands bottle to Enslin]
Mike Enslin: [after dropping
the bottle into his bag and taking
another sip] I'm still staying.
Gerald Olin: [yelling]
Dammit to hell!
Mike
Enslin: [after the toilet paper
has been turned down, and the chocolates
appear] Finally! Something to for me
to write about! I ghost that offers turn
down service!
Room
1408: Even if you leave this room,
you can never leave this room!
Katie:
Mommy, are there people where I'm going?
Mike Enslin: Hey... you're not
going anywhere. You're staying right here
with us. Okay?
Katie: Daddy... everybody dies.
Lily Enslin: When they're older.
Mike Enslin: Much, much older than
you.
Lily Enslin: And for the people
who go, it's beautiful. All their friends
are there...
Katie: Is God there Daddy?
Mike Enslin: Yes.
Katie: Do you really believe that
Daddy?
Mike
Enslin: [yelling at the top of his
voice] We didn't do enough!
Lily Enslin: [crying] Oh
god! What are you talking about? We did
everything we could have done!
Mike Enslin: [still yelling]
We should have helped her fight! Not
filled her head up with bullshit stories
of heaven, and clouds and nirvana!
[flips over coffee table]
Lily Enslin: [crying] She
liked those stories!
Mike Enslin: [no longer yelling]
I need to get some cigarettes...
Mike
Enslin: [after escaping from the
ventilation shaft and falling back into
1408] Ah, its good to be back.
Mike
Enslin: Lily, did you call the
police?
Lily Enslin: Yeah. They're in room
1408. The room's empty.
Mike
Enslin: Why don't you just kill me?
Room 1408: Because all guests of
this hotel enjoy free will, Mr. Enslin.
Mike
Enslin: [staring at the endless
door] Open it.
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