Best "horror" film of the new century so far

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2012)

John Cusack, you stole the show. Cusack's role as cult urban myth writer Mike Enslin is breathtaking and will have you wondering why he has been in such movies as Must Love Dogs and Serendipity. I can't say this enough: he absolutely steals the show. An amazing performance from him, combined with an immersive plot and great supporting acting from Samuel L. Jackson as the Dolphin Hotel's owner, creates a never before done "horror" film for the ages. I put horror in quotes due to the fact that this movie isn't a true horror film: meaning it doesn't follow the rules written so many times before it with movies like Saw and Friday the 13th part 85. Rather, it delves deep into a story of a man who simply cannot get out of a room filled with his own subconscious thoughts, ones that he must conquer and ones that he must learn to forget.
After spending a night in yet another "haunted" hotel somewhere in the rainy portions of the United States, Mike Enslin gets a postcard from the reclusive Dolphin Hotel in New York City with the words "Don't stay in 1408". Seeing it as a form of a challenge Enslin travels to New York, which coincidentally happens to be the residence city of his estranged wife, to spend a night in room 1408. He thinks it will make a good ending chapter for the book that he currently writing. After some arguing with the booking agent, he reserves a room in 1408 only to be told by the hotel manager that there have been numerous deaths and strange occurrences in that room since the hotel's opening. Not heeding the manager's warnings, Enslin decides to spend a night in the room just to see for himself. What follows is a shattering yet immensely interesting count of what happened to Mike Enslin in room 1408.
There are a few "jump" moments in this film, but nothing too bad. What really pulls you in the the way you seem to easily connect with Enslin from the beginning of the movie right through to the credits. He's a quirky yet comical guy with his own brand of satire and he seems convinces that ghost and ghoulies don't exist. He doesn't even believe in his own writing, as hypocritical as that is. Without spoiling the plot I can tell you this: the story is as immersive as the Stephen King short story of the same name; nothing is lost in the literature-movie transfer.
There are parts of this movie that are visually appealing as well and will have you gasping at what Enslin attempts to do to get himself out of the room. You will be sitting there with the movie paused, discussing with your friends what you personally would do if this would ever happen to you. The ending to this movie (I saw the Blu-ray ending, which is the original theatrical UK and European ending - the better one in my opinion) is fitting and concludes the awe-inspiring story with ease and will leave you with questions. Some will peak your curiosity so much that you may decide to sit down and read the short story that this movie is based off of. I highly recommend this.
All in all, 1408 is a dazzling display of cinema and Stephen King writing at its best. John Cusack's acting, along with the innovative plot, will keep you at the edge of your seat all the way to the sweet (or bitter) end.
+3 for Cusack
+3 for plot
+2 for supporting acting