1408: A Good Adaptation of Stephen King's Story

Stephen King's short story "1408" has been adapted to the screen in this Hollywood DVD starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. It tells the story of Mike Enslin, an author of books on paranormal tourist attractions and ghost stories, in a terrifying night he spends in a hotel room in New York City. The incredulous Enslin checks into room 1408, hoping to review its spookiness in his next book, and has no idea what awaits him.

The movie is remarkably well-written. Sensible dialogue, good character development, and a creative plot are rarities in Hollywood these days, and 1408 is a rare example of a movie which possesses all three. John Cusack (who also starred in HIgh Fidelity and Runaway Jury) does a wonderful job portraying and developing Mike Enslin into a very believable and likable character. Samuel L. Jackson brings to life his character as the mysterious, slightly intimidating hotel owner.

The movie is scary, but it is not overly grotesque or violent. I do not mean that it is completely without blood and gore, merely that it's fear functions on a psychological level, rather than stemming from shock value. The movie is suitable for a much younger age group than Saw for example. I'm not saying it would be great for a twelve year old, but high school kids who don't get nightmares can watch it without being exposed to excessive sex or violence. There also isn't much swearing in the movie. PG-13 is certainly a fair rating for it, and unless your 14-year-old gets nightmares easily, I wouldn't worry about letting him or her watch it. It contains no more graphic violence than a typical episode of CSI.

It's actually quite refreshing to see a movie that can be both frightening and successful without using very much graphic violence, sex, or curse words. As in many of Stephen King's stories, the suspense and mystery of 1408 is created by the mix of the supernatural and the mundane - room 1408 is a hotel room, but it is not just a hotel room. Much of the movie's fear and suspense is created by the viewer's imagination, but there are also quite a few shots which almost made me jump out of my chair.