Review of 1408 (2007) by Noah Abraham G — 19 Mar 2013

I'm not a huge horror movie fan, although I am trying to rectify that situation. Still, I enjoy horror movies from time to time, even if I don't like some of the classics in the same way that most people do. But the one horror movie that reigns supreme for me has to be "1408.".

Honestly, "1408" shouldn't be as great as it is. It's a PG-13 horror flick- strike one, although haunted house movies don't HAVE to be R to be effective. The director doesn't seem to have had a great amount of accomplishments. Strike two! And really, honestly, the movie isn't THAT scary.

I know, I know. A not very scary horror film is my favorite example of the genre? How is that even possible?

Well, the film has a lot of things going for it. For one, it has a solid lead in the form of John Cusack, who plays Mike Enslin. For reasons I won't divulge, Mike Enslin is a man dedicated to spending time in "haunted" places, and debunking the supernatural events behind it. One day, he receives an anonymous postcard inviting him to spend the night in room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel.

Mike Enslin is a great horror protagonist, in that he's not perfect (in fact, he's kind of an asshole), but he's likable enough that we don't want to see bad things happen to him, like Arkin in "The Collector." We can expect him to do the right thing, but not without his own dosage of wry charm.

There are a variety of characters in supporting roles (including an enjoyable Tony Shalhoub cameo), but only three of them have a lasting impact. Samuel L. Jackson excels as hotel manager Gerald Olin, while Mary McCormack has a small but pivotal.