Rent it on Apple TV and Amazon.
The works of Stephen King tend to go one of two ways: deeply profound in its exploration of the human condition, or silly over-the-top horror schlock. Part of that can be attributed to the many cliches he tends to repeat on a regular basis, while other times it can be a case of poor media translation. Sometimes what works in a book does not hold up on the silver screen. However, every once in while, there is a Stephen King story with the right kind of balance that is given to a director who knows how to handle it. When that happens, you get priceless gems like The Shawshank Redemption and The Shining. When it’s presented to the wrong director, you get unintentionally funny bombs like The Langoliers and Children of the Corn. Today’s subject, 1408, is a little challenging to place. It plays out as a well-structured character study exploring emotionally resonating aspects such as loss, guilt, and death. While simultaneously featuring the same kind of over-the-top goofiness often associated with King’s more eclectic work. And yet, somehow, it all manages to work together, creating a rare and surprisingly profound film.
Based on the short story by Stephen King, our protagonist is an alcoholic writer named Mike (John Cusack), who maintains a steady living as a debunker of haunted spaces. He has built a career writing books about supposedly haunted and possessed places and exposing them as frauds or coincidental natural phenomenon. One day, he learns of a legendary room in the luxurious Dolphin Hotel in New York, room number 1408. Throughout the Hotels history, that one room has proven itself to be a dangerous place. Fatal accidents, staff experiencing psychological breakdowns, and disappearances. Mike is eager to check out the room for himself, but the Hotel’s manager, Gerald (Samuel L Jackson), is hesitant to let Mike inside the room, let alone write about it. However, after much persuasion, Gerald grants Mike permission to enter and study room 1408. The moment he sets foot inside, everything goes off the rails. Mike finds himself in a roller coaster of nightmares, deadly pranks, and maniacal displays of power. Now, he must survive whatever strange and random things the room may throw at him. Even worse, the room seems to know an awful lot about Mike, and doesn’t hesitate to play with his mind, emotions, and sanity.
Let’s get this out of the way right now. This is yet another Stephen King story about a guy dealing with his alcoholism, which has become a staple of King’s work. This is not to say it’s a bad thing, and given Stephen King’s personal life, it’s understandable that he would continue to battle is issues through his writing. It’s just to say that it’s become cliche at this point. Even so, it is acceptable for this story in particular, because the character struggle is not limited to his drinking, but his need to drink in the first place. Without spoiling anything for those who have not yet seen the film, Mike confronts a few inner demons which have haunted him for a long time. This is not a story about sobriety entirely; it’s about closure and forgiveness.
As an actor, John Cusack tends to be hit or miss. He’s always been best utilized as a character actor for quirky supporting roles. A shining example would be his role as the saddle-wearing federal marshal in Con-Air. However, when he’s tasked with the role of a leading man, his performance style tends to poorly mesh with the demands that come with such a task. Fortunately, 1408 happens to be the right kind of film for John Cusack’s acting style, and he delivers high-quality in spades. The film allows Mr. Cusack to utilize his talent as a character actor without coming off as forceful or out of place. It’s a rare case of landing the right man at the right time for the right story.
1408 is a rare bird of a movie. It’s just silly enough to provide incredible entertainment value, and it’s just scary enough to remind us why we all fell in love with Stephen King’s stories. While it may not be high on my list of films to watch for Halloween, it is a worthy option all the same. Much like the Hotel California, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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