1408 (2007)

US

Mikael Håfström - Director
Scott Alexander - Screenwriter
Matt Greenberg - Screenwriter
Larry Karaszewski - Screenwriter
Stephen King - Short Story Author

John Cusack - Mike Enslin
Samuel L. Jackson

It is really difficult to discuss a film's plot with a big name original book author, or maybe this question can extend to every adaptation. Who should I attribute, refer to, especially most of the time I've never seen the book? So maybe the wise thing to do is put this issue aside, just concentrate on the film.

Although the plot is short lasting, the tension building between Jackson and Cusack is awesome. This kind of claustrophobic, supernatural, blurring reality and dream thriller doesn't have much surprise, basically all you have to do is to plan the seeds of terror in the first part of the film and wait for the right moment to make them bloom. But this doesn't mean it can't invoke the involuntary screams. Basically 1408 is Cusack's one man show, and he did a great job.

The ending seems to me bear less significant, nothing can really surprise audience these days, and nothing can conclude and rationalize the whole story easily. The best ending is already become cliche, and to avoid that, it means to loose the best choice.

This is Håfström's second Hollywood film, he directed the Danmark film Evil.