Not As Good As Natali...

Rating: 5/10 (14 October 2016)

In 1408, John Cusack plays Mike Enslin, an investigative journalist and author, who stays in and writes about haunted places. He considers himself a seasoned investigator and hardened skeptic, who does not believe in the existence of the paranormal.
However, one day, while leafing through fan mail, he comes across an ominous postcard from The Dolphin Hotel. It has a simple message scrawled on the back: "Do Not Enter 1408.
He considers this a challenge, and immediately uses his publisher's clout to book the room, despite objections from the hotel manager (played by Samuel L Jackson).
Upon his arrival, the manager does whatever he can to convince Enslin not to stay in the room: he tells him how 56 deaths have occurred within it's walls- with 22 being qualified as natural deaths that went unreported in papers. While others- none of whom have managed to make it longer than an hour- have either gone insane or engaged in self mutilation. Most, however, simply commit suicide.
Blinded by pride and ego, he decides to ignore these foreboding warnings, and stay in the room anyways. But he could not fathom what it would have in store for him...
And what follows is an anxiety driven, (Vincenzo) Natali-esque, attempt to escape from his Kafkan nightmare- that blurs the boundaries between what is literal and psychological.
Content matter aside, I found this film to be pretty basic and straightforward. A sort of Hollywood brand of psychological horror, if you will- not too complex or challenging. Håfström does throw an awkward twist in there, but it only seemed to draw the film out for another half an hour or so- without changing the direction I felt it was heading in anyways. That being said, the film's most redeeming quality is probably the special effects, utilized to portray the paranormal aspect of the room. But, overall, I left feeling that it was lacking in the depth and context departments.
As far as psychological horrors go...this one is pretty "meh". I'd take a Vincenzo Natali flick over this any day of the week.
4.5 out of 10.