A Truly Evil F&*%ing Room!

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2007)

Let's face it, when it comes to the horror genre, only half the films work and the rest just plain suck. I mean how many times are we gonna get the usual jump and shriek moments? They mostly become all to cliché and boring. Don't you remember the old days of the Exorcist, Poltergist, The Shining, even Nightmare On Elm Street where films actually made you heart beat go faster and faster with every unforeseen scare and haunting atmospheres that made you spine tingle? I mean there have been a few gems since then(The Sixth Sense, The Ring etc.) But they are all too far and in between, and the inevitable horror sequels just ruin the concepts(The Ring 2, The Grudge 2...EHW!) While I heard and saw the trailer for 1408, I didn't find much interest in it since it goof be the usual few scare, but flat in the end. But thankfully I got to see the movie in theaters and I was truly blow away!
Micheal Enslin is a successful writer making a profit out of writing books from "supposed" haunted hotels, but continuing to seek an actual paranormal event. When he gets a postcard about the room 1408, he is all to eager to stay in the infamous hotel and gets more than he ever imagined! 1408 is a horror film that works on all levels. You knew from the first scare that this would be the first of many! Never has a film captured a haunting atmosphere and intense horror in a film since the Shining! Micheal Cusack gives probably one of his best performances to date. From his confident attitude to his descent into insanity to his remorse over his daughter, he plays all his scenes masterfully and convinces throughout. Samuel L. Jackson is also superb as usual playing the Dolphin Hotel Manager who warns Enslin about the room. The psychological aspect of the film is played out flawlessly. The room does the unthinkable time and time again to Enslin that even the audience gets psyched out many times. Like one scene in particular where Enslin is trying to get help from the apartment across the street, it's one of the most imaginative and scariest scenes I've ever scene in a horror film! There are also other scenes where you literally thrown a loop and can't tell if these things are truly happening or if it's all in Enslin's head. Also love how the room unravels Enslin's past right in front of him giving the audience the back story not known about at the beginning of the film. You can't help but feel sorry for Enslin as he is tortured by his past and there is literally no escape. But the creepiest aspect of the film would have to be once you enter the room, the room knows more about you than you know about yourself! All and All, 1408 is refreshing and brings back classic horror not seen in years. I never thought a Stephen King novel adaption film could ever touch the Shining, but 1408 rivals that film with ease. A must see!