1408

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

When it comes to Hollywood's treatment of his works, Stephen King hasn't always hit the jackpot. But with the smart and highly entertaining new ghost story 1408, his luck may change. This nonstop shocker ranks with The Shining, Misery, and The Shawshank Redemption as one of the best King adaptations ever. John Cusack stars as a cynical author of books that spotlight weird paranormal occurrences in everyday places. While searching for his next great piece, he stumbles upon New York's venerable Dolphin hotel, where room 1408 is said to be haunted. Against the strong objections of the place's manager (Samuel L. Jackson), he gets a key and checks in. At first he's convinced the room's terrifying reputation is bogus, but events soon start to prove him wrong. Essentially a one-set, one-character movie, King's short story has been stretched to feature length, and holds up surprisingly well, considering Cusack must carry the whole thing on his shoulders. This always reliable and underrated actor is frightfully good as we watch him go from skeptical to scared to death. Horror as a screen genre has belly flopped lately, and it may be because little is left to the imagination. This film differs because so much is left to the imagination. Yes, there are plenty of ghostly special effects on display, but the real scares come from the unseen and unexplained happenings. If you're looking for some blood-curdling chills to cool down a hot summer night, check into 1408.