1408

Rating: 8/10 (11 October 2007)

I watched a couple of movies last night. The first was the sequel to "28 Days Later," "28 Weeks Later." I was severely disappointed, as the original was really good.
I went out, attempting to satisfy my "scare tooth" and picked up "1408" albeit hesitantly because the Blockbuster guy told me it wasn't that good. Boy was he wrong!
First off, Cusak is one of the greatest, underrated actors alive, and plays the role of Mike Eslin to a T. So much so that the viewer can't discern from Cusak and the character he plays, i.e. "Identity." Perhaps it shows how much an actor is willing to lose themselves in the role.
The build-up to room 1408 is masterfully created by Jackson's character with staunch and blatant resistance that heightens the appeal, anticipation and trepidation of the room.
The use of the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" and the entrance of its creepy usage with volume is brilliant, and excites several times after the initial playing, I still have it going through my head.
The customized haunt of the room to Cusak's character's past is also very brilliantly done. The room shows him his fears he long forgot in the process of chasing ghosts, with beautiful symbolism of how his life had become chasing other's ghosts to avoid the impending presence of his own.
The paintings on the walls, the lighting, the carpet and wallpaper and bathroom design is all reminiscent of "The Shining," yet also unique to its own story.
The fact that the whole floor that the room was on in the hotel is closed off adds to the intensity of the scare.
And in the end, don't read this if you have not seen it yet and are planning on, his ability to complete his relationship with his daughter and let go of the guilt and pain brought the film to an unexpected turn.
Favorites: The eerie woman's voice at the front desk. Cusak's character's progressive interaction with the room. Of course, "We've Only Just Begun." The resetting of the room, i.e. chocolates on the bed, folding of towels and toilet paper he used, etc.
There was a lot in this movie that categorizes it as very classy.
I also really enjoyed the fact that Cusak had a lot of "alone" on screen time that allowed him to really relate and interact with the room.
Well done!