1408 (2007)

Directed by Mikael Håfström. Starring John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub, Jasmine Jessica Anthony. [R]

Cynical author (Cusack) of travelogue-style books of haunted locations visits a New York hotel to stay in “evil” room 1408, in the face of grave warnings by owner Jackson that all who have stayed there before have gone mad and died. Cusack shows promise early on despite the clichéd nature of his writer character—borderline alcoholic with a troubled past and daddy issues—and the film builds dread nicely once the titular room is discussed and first investigated, a few genuine chills even creeping in…but it all starts spiraling out of control around the hour mark and never recovers. Based on a short story by Stephen King; a total of four different endings exist (theatrical and alternates), none of them fully satisfying, and none of them matching King’s source conclusion.

57/100