“1408″, Example of True Movie Horror

I’ve always been a fan of Stephen King, and I’ve had a hard-back copy of Everything Eventual on my shelf for years now.  I have to say that “1408″ is by far my favorite story in the book, and I couldn’t have been happier when I heard for a movie to be released based on the story of a hotel room that can bring up your own inner demons, and send you a long trip down the rabbit hole.  Now I know the movie came out a bit ago, but I had a fear of watching it.  In my experience, movies based on stories or books usually fall short.  But “1408“, surprised me in the way that, not only does it not fall short, but it goes beyond and above the ideas of the story.  It takes you into this room, makes you feel like you’ve checked into the Dolphin Hotel, and takes it’s time to introduce all the elements of horror that are to take place. 

The most amazing part about the film itself, is that all of this takes place in this one room.  It’s amazing how movies can take confide spaces and allow you to explore so much of the characters and their pasts in such a short time.  You see a view of the deaths and suicides that have taken place in the hotel, from former victims that were driven crazy by the haunted room.  The darkness that begins to swarm around John Cusack’s character has he’s pulled further down the rabbit hole, brings up former demons from his past, that he is now forced to cope with.  The loss of his daughter, and the wife he left behind.  His writing career that has fallen short from what he wanted, and his sadness in not finding the paranormal activity that he had been hoping for over the years. 

As the movie moves along, you find yourself clutching a pillow, waiting for what may happen next in this thriller. You root for the hero, hoping he escapes the clutches of the demonic room, and wanting him to reconcile his past along the way.  You can actually feel the emotions that run throughout Cusack’s character, when he is finally confronted by his daughter.  And the ending, it leaves chills running up your spine momentarily.  I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys Stephen King’s work, and the dark sinister acting of Samuel L. Jackson, and John Cusack’s ability to pull you into his characters.  I give this movie five stars, and say go rent it soon as possible.