Eerily confusing.

Rating: 6/10 (19 June 2014)

As with many of the more recent horror films from Hollywood, 1408 is a creepy but confusing movie - a story where supernatural writer Mike Enslin (John Cusack) travels to New York to spend one night in the Dolphin Hotel, attempting to debunk the mystery of the unavailable room 1408, in which prior guests disappear in after checking in.
The atmosphere of the plot gives you a subtle but eerie feeling that reminds viewers of the mystery of Room 1408; even a close-up of the key unlocking the door to the room was filmed in dramatic fashion. Enslin checking into the forbidden 1408 will make you nervously anxious to see what supernatural events will occur around him and to see if he will survive the ordeal - all making this a somewhat scary movie.
I liked how you can feel the unease and terror surrounding Enslin, but his portrayal by Cusack was sub-par at best - pretty emotionless. While the plot is quick-paced, there are many twists and turns that may confuse the viewers, especially during the climax, and many plot elements are unexplained (i.e., why is the room evil?).
There are many other horror flicks out there that have more captivating and dramatic stories. This one is good for a few scares, but the confusing plot points might leave you mind boggled and you might be tempted to re-watch it just to understand the film better.
Grade C+