It may be in part like a ghost house, but it's a fun and exciting one, and more watchable than any other PG-13 horror film I've seen in a while. On the contrary, there is some originality to how the special effects team- via Cusack, going through many modes of acting like it's a powerhouse audition- bring out the best of what can be offered with a horror-show amusement park. But, as mentioned, it doesn't come off as being too unsurprising. As I said, not a great film, as sometimes it has that feel of an all-too well-oiled machine by director Mikael Håfström, edging on feeling like there's a checklist somewhere of things to happen in the room to Elsin. It's usually a conceit that the filmmaker puts in to have the central character to have a dark past loaded with sadness, but here it works effectively in how gradually it all comes out, and how the fear/acceptance of death is something just as, if not more-so, terrifying than anything else the room has to offer. Spiked? Probably not- this is a thrill-ride predicated on lightning-fast imagery, but too fast (it isn't Saw thank goodness), and Elsin's past, notably the death of his daughter.
#The room 1408 full movie movie#
The sudden images of a man with an ax swinging at Elson, the images of ghosts jumping out of the windows (one of them, which I found extraordinary, was shown with the same marks that come with an old movie print), isolation enhanced by a lack of windows to either side, and that bottle of booze. Unlike the unsuccessful pot-boiler Identity, which also (regrettably) starred Cusack, this isn't contrived for the sake of it. It all leads up to a few good twists and turns, but good being the important word here. Slowly, but extremely surely, things start popping up in the room, out of Elsin's own consciousness, perhaps, and as well with the environment changing (fix that heater!), and even a pint-sized version of the hotel manager (who doesn't want to see Jackon ala Indian in the Cupboard?). But he's insistent to the point where there's no turning back. The manager warns him, fervently, to not stay in the room. The premise is vintage King: a cynical writer (Cusack) who's books go over the paranormal (with the exception of a personal book about a father and son), and gets sent an anonymous postcard about the Dolphin hotel and room 1408. 1408 isn't a great thriller, but for King fans it'll likely be one of the most faithful- or at least feel faithful- efforts to date, and as such it's pretty creepy and a sure-fire "gotcha" machine. And then there are those that sort of lie right in the middle, as decent, unpretentious but unremarkable efforts that chill or spill into your living room or movie theater. Sometimes there's an exceptional effort by someone with a really strong vision (eg Kubrick, De Palma), but then there are also some big blunders (Dreamcatcher comes first to mind). It's a hit or miss thing with Stephen King movies. The last shot is of him finishing his cigarette and walking towards the door just as he vanishes. We see a specter Mike Enslin staring out the window. Gerald catches his breath, starting his car and driving off. He looks back at the girl who has found her dad that was looking for her. Gerald jumps but the vision quickly disappears.
He turns around to look at her and catches a brief vision of Mike Enslin in his back seat, hideously burned. As he listens, he sees a young girl in his rear-view mirror waving in his direction. Gerald plays it and hears the same dialog between Mike and his daughter heard at the end of the theatrical release. Gerald returns to his car and opens the box, which contains the nightgown that was sent through the fax machine as well and the burned tape recorder.
Lily, in too much grief to listen, cuts him off and refuses to accept the box.
He offers it to Lily while also trying to explain, with a sense of hope, that Mike's death of was not in vain and that because of his actions no one else will *ever be able to stay in room 1408.
He says the box contains some of Mike's belongings still left in the room. Gerald introduces himself and gives his condolences. As the procession ends, Lily walks to her car and is met by Gerald Olin who is carrying a box. Lily is there, being consoled by Mike's agent. The next scene is at Mike's funeral where his coffin is lowered into the ground right next to his daughter's just as the visions 1408 prophesied. The camera zooms in on the numbers on the outside door, just as they melt from the heat. Instead, the last we see of him is when he's lying on his back in the burning room and we hear the words of his daughter "everybody dies". Mike Enslin sets fire to 1408 but is not rescued by the fire department. ***Spoiler Alert - Alternate Ending*** The Director's Cut contains a more tragic ending.
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