Checking out of 1408

Rating: 7/10 (2 September 2007)

As a lover of movies there is nothing better than going to the cinema to see a good horror movie no matter what the sub genre is.
Our main character in 1408 is Mike Enslin, played very well by John Cusack. Mike is a writer and after the tragic death of his daughter he leaves writing novels behind and creates his own, albeit, rather unsuccessful "10 Ten Most Haunted" franchise.
The movie starts of with Mike travelling to a haunted hotel to investigate whether or not it is actually haunted, but in no way does Mike actually believe in ghosts or actual hauntings.
After a good 20mins Mike receives an anonymous postcard informing him about a mysterious and dangerous room at the Dolphin Hotel. Mike sets of to the hotel only to be informed by manager Samuel L Jackson, who is not playing a cop or bad ass mutha, that room 1408 is haunted and that many of his clients have died unnatural deaths and .shock horror .even natural deaths in that particular room.
So off Mike goes to room 1408. Here it is were John Cusacks performance really shines. You have to bear in mind that four the next hour it is basically Mike alone reacting with the goings on.
Instead of running around shrieking in a pair of hot pants as is the norm in modern horror movies, Mike tries to logically explain what is going on and how the staff of the Dolphin Hotel are trying to put the frighteners on him.
Just when you think that the movie is all sewn up in a totally predictable way and we can go home for the night the twist comes, and I don't want to spoil anything in great detail but what I can say is that it is one of the biggest disappointments in movie history. The twist served no real purpose but to extend the movie for another thirty minutes and supply the audience with another inferior ending to wrap the movie up.
There was no conclusion or explanation as to why the room was evil but I do know that if it was all sewn up there would be no need for a much inferior sequel staring a lesser known actor.
There is no doubting that there were some jumpy moments throughout the movie, but someone quietly sneaking up behind you isn't really that scary.
The movie was saved by John Cusack who went from a sarcastic unbeliever to a terrified wreak. Samuel L Jackson showed up to give us some background information and as it is probably written into all his contracts he provides the movies only "F" word.
The 1408 also wins an award for the most pointless CGI scene ever - who ever thought that the audience would need to see a special effect of someone turning a key in a door is very deluded.
Don't get me wrong the 1408 is an OK movie and I would give it 7/10.
It loses a point for Samuel L Jacksons use of the "F" word, it was predictable and as much as I love Samuel L Jackson, he just wasn't believable as a hotel manager. It loses two points for the twist and the ending. I would rather they just ended it at the twist as the actual ending was just as predictable and to be honest boring.
John Cusack did save the movie and it would be worth seeing it just for him - and this comes from someone who wouldn't call herself a huge Cusack fan.
I would say to you - go and see the movie - it is entertaining but you will come of the cinema thinking that it could have ended so much better.