John Cusack checks in...

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2009)

Mike Enslin is an author specialized in the horror genre.He keeps investigating haunted houses but finds nothing haunted in them.He has become more of a skeptic in the whole matter.But then he hears of the room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City.He checks in, even though the hotel manager Olin tells him not to.He tells about all the horrible events that have taken place in that room.Anybody who goes in that room doesn't come out alive.Despite all that talk Enslin takes the key and goes in the room 1408.He has his Mini Cassette recorder where he dictates all the stuff that goes on in that room.And some strange things do happen in that room and he wants out.But checking out seems almost impossible.Mikael Håfström is the director of 1408 (2007) and it's based on Stephen King's short story.John Cusack gives a perfect performance in the lead.You live with him in that room and desperately want to get out of that room with him.Samuel L. Jackson is just the right man to play Gerald Olin.Mary McCormack portrays the estranged wife Lily brilliantly.Jasmine Jessica Anthony gives a chilling performance as Mike's daughter Katie.Same thing with Len Cariou, who plays Mike's father.Tony Shalhoub gives a short but great performance as Enslin's agent Sam Farrell.This movie does what a good horror movie should do.It scares you, many times.It gives you the chills the way a scary movie is assigned to do.The clock radio starts blaring "We've Only Just Begun" by The Carpenters.The clock's digital display scrambles to 60:00 and starts counting down from 60 minutes.You see ghosts jumping off the hotel window.Mike's deceased daughter appears to him and talks to him.Are you ready to check in?