not bad, not bad

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2007)

What was it that disturbed me about 1408? Was it the part when he looked across the street and saw himself in the other building? Or was every time the alarm clock turned itself on and started playing that music? Or maybe it was when he was trying to get into the next room over only to find that instead of another window to crawl into, it was just more of the cold brick wall? Well, I can say that all of these things were good qualities of a jumpy thriller flick. However, what I found made this movie work was the typical things you would find in a hotel room. The elevator music...the paintings...the bible...the bed that countless people have been in (a fact John was happy to bring up). Yes, I am going to be reminded of 1408 every time I check into a hotel for a while.
There have been many horror movies in the past few years. The most notable stories have been the one where a group of people are lured off the interstate where there is no cell phone service, and creepy villains await them with sharp objects. And then there is the one where a man imprisons several people and tortures them, usually with psychological mind games for no reason at all. 1408 is neither. And while I question whether it does earn the genre of horror, it certainly kept the annoying audience in the theater screaming on opening night.
Once again John Cusack is that guy that goes into the hotel and finds himself in a situation with no rational answers. This movie was no Identity, but I still give 1408 its props.