These Four Walls (1408 (DVD))

Member Name: topsyturvy

Product:	1408 (DVD)
Date:	07/11/07 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good acting, unpredictable

Disadvantages: bit long

In the summer there were quite a lot of films coming out but I didn’t get the chance to see them all. However, a cinema nearby me for Halloween was playing a range of scary films and one that they picked was the film ‘1408’. I had heard of it over the summer but until seeing the trailer on the Apple site I had no idea that it was a horror I had just assumed it was Sci-Fi or a historical film and that the number was a year date. So anyway I knew John Cusack was in it who I hadn’t seen in a while as well. I do like a scary film and I know that Saw 4 had come out too but in all honesty I think I’ve seen enough Saw films to last me a lifetime and the fourth was too risky a choice in case it was really not good.

The film begins with us seeing someone driving and then arriving at some small looking hotel. The guests will not stop talking but what makes the conversation unusual is that the man arriving is asking about paranormal activity in the room which is not a typical question. We soon find out the man is called Mike Enslin (John Cusack) and for a living he writes about the supernatural phenomenon but he, himself is a sceptic so it seems a bit ironic for him to be an author on this subject. He has written many books such as top 10 Haunted Hotels and many along these lines but he wants to research the subject further and finds out about the Room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. However, on phoning to reserve he keeps being told it is unavailable but finds a way to get a reservation now knowing something is not right.

Upon arrival at the hotel in New York City, there seems to be a bit of a problem with his room. Mr. Olin (Samuel L. Jackson) tells Mike that he is being ridiculous and he doesn’t want him staying in this room because it is no joke. He explains the story of how a maid was left in there and came out blind after being locked in the bathroom and gauging her eyes out. He also further warns him that the door of room 1408 is only unlocked once every month and that is for two minutes so that the room is kept clean to look like any other but there are numerous people in and the door is never shut behind them. Even with all of this warning, being the sceptic he is Mike will not take these warning and gets his bags and is ready to settle for the night but he will soon find out the truth about Room 1408.

As we watch this film go on it goes on a bit more differently from how I’d expected it to go. The film wasn’t in any way gory and was more about the suspense and wondering what was there. It does have a storyline though and isn’t just about playing with the mind but I can’t say I found it really that scary. I don’t know about anyone else but I feel the film dragged on a bit and I was sick of the sight of 1408 by the end.

The ending to me all made sense in the end and was in no way predictable but still I found it a bit unrealistic. Some things made sense but some didn’t. I feel the film tried to hard at times and was getting a bit confusing whereas they should have stuck to the one direction.

I think that John Cusack was really good in this film, I haven’t seen him in a lot but he was great. He went from a strong confident character, to terrified and emotional and all with ease, which shows his talent. I also think Samuel L Jackson was good as the creepy hotel manager but he is always an amazing actor to me and rarely picks a bad part.

Overall, I’d recommend this film to anyone looking for a bit of a scare and a film to pass the time. It was a good film and it concluded in a way which wasn’t completely unrealistic but I think it could have been cut a bit.

The film is not yet out on DVD region 2 but you can buy region 1 on http://www.cd-wow.co.uk for £14.99.

The official website for the film is http://www.1408-themovie.com/ and on this website you can view the trailer.

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