a tense, fast-paced, edge of your seat thriller/horror movie that messes with your mind!

Rating: 9/10 (14 November 2014)

1408 follows the story of a writer (John Cusack) who spends the night at supposedly haunted places, takes notes and observations, and proves that they are not haunted. His goal is to one day experience a supernatural event. One day he spends the night at a haunted hotel room in New York City and becomes trapped in and must fight for his life. Unlike most paranormal/ghost movies (i.e., Paranormal Activity, the Conjuring, etc.), 1408 is actually fast-paced and exciting. I like movies that take their time building tension, but this one gets into the action right away and the suspense and terror does not let up. Much of this is supported by a strong performance from John Cusack, who captures his character and the horrible situation he is in perfectly. The movie gets more and more crazy as it goes along and it is very unpredictable. Rather than following the clichéd pattern where each scene is a buildup to a jump-scare, the movie actually goes in unexpected directions and takes abrupt twists. The thing I loved most about 1408 was the psychological anxiety experienced by the viewer while watching. The movie gets inside your head and makes you think about whether certain things are real or if they are illusions from the room. In conclusion, 1408 is a great horror movie that sucks you into the story. It is definitely worth watching for anyone who likes psychological horror rather than blatant violence and cheap jump-scares.