Posted by
Emmett of the Unblinking Eye on Friday, July 06, 2007 5:14:55 PM
Unlike Mr. Hewitt, I'm usually up for a good scary movie. The problem is that most of the good scary movies are also good, violent, bloody scary movies. And while gore has its place, I suppose, it's not the generally the basis for reasonable movie making. So it's a pleasure to see a classy, well-acted, non-gory and still pretty scary movie like 1408 come along.
1408 is based on a Stephen King short story of the same name, which is part of his
Everything's Eventual collection. John Cusack plays an author of books about haunted mansions, castles, etc. -- called, for example, the Top 10 Haunted Mansions, if you can imagine the invade-the-copyright chutzpa -- who is heck-bent to debunk anything even partially paranormal. But when he gets an anonymous postcard concerning Room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York, he can't resist making it the final chapter in his latest book. And despite his best efforts, the hotel's manager, played by Samuel L. Jackson, cannot convince him that it's not the brightest idea. By the end of the movie, Cusack wishes that he had. It's a terrific performance by Cusack.
If you haven't seen it on the big screen -- and if you're in for a good, clean scare -- run out and do so.