1408

1408 is based on a short story by Stephen King written as the twelfth story in the collection 'Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales'. It's also the number of King's short stories that have been turned into a movie. Not really, but I imagine it's pretty high. There have been many great adaptations over the years: Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, The Shining etc. Unfortunately, there have been more horrible interpretations and 1408 is certainly one of them.

John Cusack plays Mike Enslin, who writes non-fiction works based on haunted places and ghostly occurrences. However, as it becomes quickly apparent that he does not believe in anything paranormal and his career is not driven by his personal beliefs.

As part of his research for his next book, Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Hotel Rooms, he decides to spend a night in room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York, which has been responsible for 12 suicides and 30 natural deaths over a span of 68 years.

Samuel L Jackson plays a small role as the hotel manager who explains the grisly details to him and attempts in vain to dissuade Enslin from spending a night in the room.

As you may imagine, once inside the room, strange things begin to occur which makes Enslin re-evaluate his preconceived notions about spirits and eventually things take a turn for the worse.

Although there are minor interesting twists on the take of the evil room, 1408 is not scary and gradually bored me up to a plot point in the film which downright irritated me.

Worth a watch if it's on TV but otherwise avoid.

I would give this film 3.7 false endings out of 10.