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| 1408 (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) | 
 enlarge | Actor: John Cusack
Studio: Weinstein Company
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.95
Buy Used: $6.48
You Save: $18.47 (74%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  154 reviews
Sales Rank: 512
Format: Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 80774
UPC: 796019807746
EAN: 0796019807746
ASIN: B000UNYJLS
Theatrical Release Date: June 22, 2007
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Plays great and ships next day.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
As creepfests go, 1408 is right up there with The Shining, also inspired by a Stephen King work and featuring a menacing hotel and the wobbly sanity of a writer lodging there. "It's an evil [bleep]-ing room!" intones Samuel L. Jackson, who plays the smooth but vaguely sinister manager of the Dolphin Hotel. John Cusack is stellar as Mike Enslin, a cynical Everyschlub who writes "occult travel guides," but believes in nothing, especially anything resembling an afterlife. What happens in room 1408 of the Dolphin may change Enslin forever--if he survives the first hour. The thrills range from jumpy "gotcha" moments involving mirror images, to more traditional horror fare like bleeding walls, to truly diabolical touches like the recurrence of the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun." (Shudder.) The film does a nice job of weaving the operatic horror effects with the truly heart-breaking backstory of the death of Enslin's young daughter and his marriage--perhaps the only two things Enslin has ever believed in. And thankfully, there's just enough humor to leaven the intensity at key moments; Cusack is unparalleled when it comes to delivering a self-deprecating wisecrack, even as his life passes before his eyes. Get your adrenaline pumping and check into this room. Oh, and sorry, no refunds. A.T. Hurley
Description
(Thriller) Based on a short story by Stephen King, a man who specializes in debunking the paranormal checks into the infamous room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel, only to discover… the terror is real.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 149 more reviews...
 An above- average, atmospheric horror thriller September 6, 2007
76 out of 79 found this review helpful
1408 is one of the best film adaptations of a Stephen King story, and is highly atmospheric. I too am growing weary of movies masquerading themselves as horror films these days, when all they offer are ludicruous plot lines and excess gore, violence and gratuituous sex.
By comparison, 1408 exceeds all expectations when taken for what it is - an intelligent horror movie that despite being rated a tame PG-13 delivers chills, thrills, and a strong performance by its lead actor, John Cusack, as well as a good supporting role by Samuel L Jackson. The story centers around a jaded author, Mike Enslin [John Cusack] who pens 'true horror' books but is actually a skeptic who doesn't believe in the afterworld or entities associated with it. He receives a cryptic postcard one day that tells him 'Do Not Enter 1408' -being a room in the Dolphin Hotel in NY, where Enslin has left behind a painful past.
The rest of the movie picks up pace very quickly and viewers are in for a thrill ride as Enslin manages to overcome the protestations of the hotel manager [Samuel Jackson] and spends the night in 1408, which has one of the grisliest & bloody reputations in the annals of hotel history. Enslin finds his skepticism melting in the face of the unbelievable horrors he faces in 1408, and struggles to keep his wits about him to survive.
The horror in this movie is very palpable - there is no gore or excess violence, but there's a pervasive sense of menace and evil that sends chills down one's spine, and a couple of jump-out-your-seat moments[not to mention a couple of plot twists]. But what truly lifts this movie is the strong & riveting performance by John Cusack. The whole movie basically revolves around him and it is amazing to watch an actor bring so much depth to his role as well as portray a feeling of alienation, isolation and paranoia as Enslin tries to face his fears in 1408.
I am a fan of atmospheric horror movies, and 1408 ranks as one of my favorite horror movies [ The Haunting, Changeling, Rosemary's Baby, The Shining being some of my other favs]. If you're a fan of the horror genre, or simply a fan of psychological drama & thrillers, then 1408 should please you.
 A Good Movie Made Stronger By Masterful Pacing... June 28, 2007
39 out of 43 found this review helpful
My wife and I went to see 1408 the other night. It was a birthday gift--otherwise she'd never have gone. She hates horror movies.
Interestingly, we both ended up enjoying the movie.
I read (or should I say listened to?) the short story prior to seeing the movie. Much like I prefer the movie version of the Shawshank Redemption, I prefer the movie version of 1408.
John Cusak is great. He usually is. Samuel Jackson gives a wonderful performance. Whoever the little girl actress is--she also did a remarkable job.
The ending rocks (I promise I won't spoil anything).
What makes this movie a little stronger than most horror fare is this:
1. The pacing is great. Things never go over the top by being too intense for too long. This has been a big issue in horror films lately. They lose their suspension of disbelief from too much emotional weight. I don't know about you, but I find myself mentally withdrawing from such stories to come up for air. When I re-engage, much is lost.
2. Speaking of suspension of disbelief wreckers...there is very little gore here. In this movie, when gore does come, it usually comes in the old photos. I feel this lack of abundant gore strengthens the pyschological impact of the movie as a whole. It also prevents the movie from turning plain old silly like recent gore-fests along the lines of The Hills Have Eyes.
While this is not my favorite Stephen King adaptation--Shawshank still reigns there--1408 is a solid, intelligent and emotionally resonant movie. You will not be wasting your money if you go to see this over the 4th of July holiday.
I give 1408 a strong recommendation.
PS- This also gets the award for best use of a Carpenters song in a horror film since In the Mouth of Madness.
John Cusack Excels in Psychological Thriller July 10, 2007
31 out of 35 found this review helpful
Be prepared to be unnerved when Mike Enslin (John Cusack) undergoes the scariest hotel experience since Jack Torrance (aka Nicholson) checked his family into the Overlook and met the Shining. Enslin is a cynical writer who pens books about haunted places although he doesn't actually believe they are haunted. When an unsolicited postcard invites him to check into room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, he decides to book a room. Samuel L. Jackson, in an all-too-brief appearance as the hotel manager, tries every trick in the book to prevent Enslin from staying in the room, but nothing will deter the unbelieving writer from spending a night in 1408. Things that go bump in the night will startle you and the heart-rending back-story on Enslin's life adds a compelling plot to the thrills, squeals, and chills awaiting Enslin and the viewer. John Cusack is amazing as always as he draws you into his private hell. This is a movie that will get under your skin and chill your bones right up to the heart-stopping ending.
I liked it-good acting by Cusack..... September 2, 2007
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
This movie was made from a short story by Stephen King, 1408 is like a minibar version of Stanley Kubrick's take on The Shining: everything that made that film great has been reduced here into something smaller in scale that's easier to consume but significantly less satisfying. Another film about a writer being driven insane by an evil hotel, it offers a refreshing stop-over for horror fans seeking a rest from the torture porn excesses of Saw and Hostel, yet boasts none of the complexity, the intellectual nourishment or the intense creepiness of Kubrick's thematically similar horror masterpiece.
What it does have in its favour is John Cusack.
He plays Mike Enslin, a failed novelist who has managed to make a living debunking the presence of ghosts, ghouls and poltergeists in a series of bestselling guidebooks to America's most haunted hotels. His usual trick is to travel to some roadside motel where he'll be eagerly greeted by proprietors ready to regale him with tales of grizzly suicides and malign spirits haunting the rooms. He then tries to settle in for a good night's sleep, after making some effort towards, if not quite professionalism, then at least taking the job half-seriously.
This all changes when he receives an anonymous postcard imploring him not to enter room 1408 in Manhattan's upscale Dolphin hotel. His interest suitably piqued, he calls up to reserve the room, only to be told it's unavailable - at all times. With the aid of his publisher's legal team, however, he manages to secure a reservation and flies from his home in California to check in, only to be greeted by the hotel's creepily officious manager, Gerald Olin (Samuel L Jackson), who pleads with him to take an alternative suite.
His reasoning is simple---Four people have died horrible deaths under his watch and, in its 95-year existence, a litany of people have lost their lives by torturous means. Nevertheless, Mike is determined to check in and, sensing he's fighting a losing battle, Olin allows him to do so, ominously leaving him at the room's door to face a whole host of personal demons and malevolent spirits.
Once he's shut off and isolated in the room, Cusack is also the kind of actor you don't mind spending the majority of a movie with, and he's great when Mike's cynicism gives way to disbelief and outright terror. The film has a few neat touches, too--I won`t give then away....
It's too bad the film eventually goes overboard with CGI effects, but heck it kept me interested for a couple of hours.
"She had taken a pair of scissors and gouged her eyes out. She was laughing hysterically..." October 5, 2007
16 out of 21 found this review helpful
It is extremely refreshing to finally see a "true" horror movie that doesn't go for shock value. All of the horror movies that come out now only deal with a lot of blood, guts and torturing. Not knocking that type of movies, but it gets tiring when it's the same thing over and over again. With "1408," you are given a truly creepy movie that gets into your head, as well as in your soul. The premise at a glance seems simple and even risks being overly ridiculous if not handled with the greatest of care.
Mike Enslin is a writer who likes to take his accounts of so-called "haunted" areas and sell them to the public in his books, however if you really know the man you know that he really doesn't believe in anything. Still, there is something that drives him to go to each place that claims to be haunted to see if he can have some sort of proof that there is something more to what we simply see everyday. He gets a postcard from the Dolphin Hotel and on the back it warns him specifically not to go into Room 1408. Of course, this makes Mike all the more curious, so he sets his sight onto the room. Not even the manager of the hotel can steer him away with his warnings, as Mike himself says to the manager that he doesn't believe in ghosts or monsters, and even if they did exist that there was no God to protect them from such horrors. The manager allows Mike to stay in the room after seeing there is no way to tell him otherwise. What Mike will witness during his stay is the things that nightmares are made of, and it will dish out every single fear he has ever had along with forcing him to revisit a horrible personal tragedy and get to the very bottom of his soul.
"1408" not only is a well-made horror movie, but it's also an excellent film over all. This is a movie that goes to places that a lot of the new horror movies don't go. The movie is not afraid to get personal and deep while still giving you great scares. There are times that you may find yourself jumping here and there, but the scare factor is mostly psychological and it'll make you feel uncomfortable in your seat. You don't have to scream aloud to be frightened. It's a scream that you keep inside of yourself and take with you when you go to bed, and it lingers in your head no matter how many times you try to shake it off.
There are two things that make this movie a success; 1) John Cusack is phenomenal, and dare I say this might be one of his best performances ever, and that is nothing easy considering the fact that he's solo in 90% of the movie. He has great range as an actor, and this movie showcases all of his emotions and you really feel for him and grow to love him. 2) The emotional human side of the film that's very realistic. Even though it's been said in reviews and the trailer, I don't want to give it away. You'll understand when you watch the movie. These are the two important factors that make the movie work and keep it from being a "goofy horror" flick.
The 2-Disc "Collector's Edition" contains some behind the scenes features, both the theatrical and an "Extended Director's Cut" and commentary on the "Director's Cut" version of the film. I've seen both and I personally prefer the theatrical cut, but it was interesting to see the other version. In fact, the director, as much as he loves some of the extended scenes and the "alternate ending" that's featured in the "Director's Cut," admits to being very happy with the theatrical version and understanding why some things were better left out or changed (this found on the commentary track with him and the writers). The ending in the other version is very different from the theatrical, but again I have to say I prefer the version I originally saw the first time. If you go with the 2-Disc edition, you can view for yourself and see which one you like better.
"1408" is one of the few new horror movies that really made an impact on me, and it's a trip worth taking. It's not one that everyone will like, and some people may not be able to handle some of the dark and depressing themes that the movie ventures into, but if you're sick of the torture flicks and want to see a genuinely creepy movie that'll stay with you, then I highly recommend checking it out. Definitely goes down as one of my favorite movies of the year. -Michael Crane
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