It's been often said or considered that our worst fears are not the fully realized, but the unrealized yet perceived. Or sins, regrets or horrors of our pasts. The uncertainty of what's "real" or not. The real Perhaps this conundrum is more terrifying than a mutant monster or knife-wielding slasher chasing you. It's this kind of psychological terror that makes "1408" an effective flick, which is based on a Stephen King story.
John Cusack, just turning 41 on June 28 and more than 20 years removed from "Sixteen Candles," "The Sure Thing" and "Better Off Dead," hasn't lost his edge. I quite enjoyed his character of Mike Enslin, a novelist estranged from his wife after their young daughter's death, and a disbeliever of many things -- Hope. God. Love. His cynicism for the very subjects he writes about – the paranormal – leads him to be more jaded. He tours sites that market themselves as haunted, only to mock their supposed supernatural qualities in his books. And to a certain extent, breaking down people's hopes and wonders about the life hereafter.
One day sifting through a mountain of typical invitations to such sites (mainly haunted hotels), he gets an anonymous invite to the Dolphin Hotel. The postcard simply says, "Don't enter 1408." Of course, that would get my attention. Kinda like when someone says "don't do something I wouldn't do." That's a dare to do exactly something you wouldn't do! Enslin makes off to New York, expenses paid for (bastard!), and takes forever to check into the hotel because he WANTS 1408. But people know the room's horrible history – more than 50 guests have died at their own hand.
Samuel L. mutha-freakin Jackson gives a good tete-a-tete talk with Cusack, trying his best to dissuade him from taking 1408. As Jackson, the hotel manager says, it's "an evil room." But the cynical Enslin is committed to checking out the spooky stuff for one night. Once inside the infamous room, Enslin awaits the onslaught. He dictates his thoughts onto tape. At first, seemingly harmless things happen on their own from a radio clock turning on by itself loudly (and eventually with the same song) to a carefully folded piece of toilet paper placed back on the roll.
And then the fun really begins. Within an hour (which is kept track by said clock), Cusack's character is driven to near insanity with specters of past victims and killers, seeming hallucinations, strange sounds and – yes – the requisite wall of dripping blood. It's like "The Shining" sort of meeting "The Storm of the Century." Or "Kingdom Hospital" meeting "The Tommyknockers." Something like it, but enclosed in this battle between Enslin (really, his mind) and the room and whatever malevolent force that possesses the room. It's like Descartes driven to the brink, the "malicious demon" that has somehow replaced a benevolent God and foisting his evil will upon Enslin's disbelieving heart and soul.
Interesting how as the night unfolds, Enslin recalls Dante's Inferno – the circle levels of hell. As things get worse, further into the depths Enslin feels his mind dive. I won't spoil the ending, but "1408" is creepy, but not scholocky or gory as one might expect. Besides, it's rated PG-13. Think of it as Cusack growing up and facing his demons long after his angst-filled lives in "Better Off Dead," "Say Anything" and "Gross Pointe Blank."
Oh, best quotes:
"You do drink, don't you?" Jackson
"Of course. I did just say I was a writer." – Cusack (my hero =)
"Eight dollars for beer nuts? This room is evil." -- Cusack
"Because all guests of this hotel enjoy the benefit of free will." – The sweet-sounding yet apparently malevolent hotel desk clerk over the phone.
"Paranoia is total awareness." – Slogan on cap Cusack wears. Great stuff.
