This well made psychological supernatural horror film is nicely directed but never as satisfying as you liked to be.

Rating: 8/10 (4 October 2007)

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a writer, who search for the Supernatural. He goes to real-life haunted house and hotels to see if the myth is true. Which he writes about it on his next novel. Then he receives an mysterious post card and It says don't enter to room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York City. Enslin does his research and he finds there's strange local legends about that room, including murders and suicides. Enslin finds out that the room 1408 is off-limits in the Hotel. He convinces the hotel manager Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson) to let him stay in the room for the night. While Olin tries his best to not let Enslin stay in that room. Which Olin mentions other incidents that the newspaper didn't write about. But Enslin makes up his mind to stay in that infamous room and Olin says that no one survives after a certain time limit in that room. Once Enslin is in the room, he is amazed how normal that room is until very slowly strange things are starting to happen around him. Not everything makes sense in that room, when parts of his life are starting to haunt him. Now Enslin has to battle his own personal demons of his past to stay alive.
Directed by Mikael Hafstorm (Derailed) made an interesting, visually stylish supernatural ghost story about an evil room. Cusack is the whole show in the movie and he plays his part extremely well. Jackson is good in his small but memorable part as the Hotel Manager. This movie has some good scares and it is surprisingly intense as well. But after the strong 2/3 of the movie. Somewhere in the beginning of the last act nearly falls apart before finishing the film with an satisfying conclusion. But for some tastes, it is never as satisfying as you liked to be. In the end results, i was slightly disappointed with the picture but it is still a good movie and it keep you entertained.
DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This review is the PG-13 Version of the movie. DVD only has two mini-featurettes and the original theatrical trailer. The Two Disc Collector's Edition have both the original theatrical cut and director's cut as well with an different darker conclusion. This fascinating premise is based on the short story by Stephen King (The Green Mile, Misery, The Mist). Which this film will certainly remind you of previous films of King's work on films. The picture was well received by the critics and it turned out to be a surprise box office success. Die Hard fans of King's work and for those, who like supernatural stories will probably enjoy this movie best. "1408" is an ambitious, suspenseful, well made movie that is certainly worth a look. Screenplay by Matt Greenberg (Halloween H20:20 Years Later, Reign of Fire), Scott Alexander (Man on the Moon, Problem Child, Screwed) and Larry Karaszewski (Problem Child 2, Agent Cody Banks, Ed Wood). Super 35. (*** ½/*****).