The psychologically taut chiller delivers the intelligence of any story of the type.

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2008)

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a eye-witness writer of paranormal ghost survival guides, his stories which have been held in high acclaim by his fans, and an individual who at one point went to supposedly haunted hotels for the stimulation of perhaps finding his elusive subject, but as time went on, his faith began to diminish. He created many stories from his imagination rather then personal experiences, and feels that his readers deserve the truth about it. Suffice to say that he is not going to be rattled by the ghastly Dolphin Hotel. The film opens where the short story (by Stephen King, who else?) doesn't, Enslin is going to a hotel that has apparent haunted history, but after a night of discovery and interminable periods of waiting, our protagonist's theory about the non-existent afterlife is only strengthened by this. To establish themes, properly and proficiently the beginning moves by quick, only because the buff of the film takes place in the hotel room, but we are also shown a day in the life of Enslin, including a book signing where he explains to the three fans that show'd up, that his work is not exactly cut out for him. Instead he is forced to create chilling plots and twists so the book isn't like the real experience he had. The Dolphin Hotel caught his eye, and he felt would make a solid final chapter for his book, so, even against the grave warnings attempted by hotel manager Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), he goes on one of his usual adventures expecting the same result as every other desperate hotel makes to attract attention. Too bad for Mike, this room is actually haunted. As the night proceeds, the subtle creeks and cracks in the distance evolve to be the evil room Olin warned him of. Enslin's past is revealed and we see the selfish writer just happens to have been given a taste of his own medicine so-to-speak. In my opinion, the screenplay for this film is truly one that deserved an Oscar-nomination. It truly did. The complicated character and a night of very psychological, moral and self discovery lacked very little. Good direction and performances hold my opinion.