1408 (2007)

A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

Director:

Mikael Håfström

Writers:

Matt Greenberg (screenplay), Scott Alexander (screenplay),

Stars:

John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cusack	...	Mike Enslin
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Gerald Olin
Mary McCormack	...	Lily
Tony Shalhoub	...	Sam Farrell
Len Cariou	...	Mike's Father
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Hotel Engineer
Jasmine Jessica Anthony	...	Katie
Paul Birchard	...	Mr. Innkeeper
Margot Leicester	...	Mrs. Innkeeper
Walter Lewis	...	Book Store Cashier
Eric Meyers	...	Man #1 at Book Signing
David Nicholson	...	Man #2 at Book Signing
Holly Hayes	...	Lady at Book Signing
Alexandra Silber	...	Young Woman at Book Signing
Johann Urb	...	Surfer Dude

Storyline

The cynical and skeptical writer Mike Enslin writes books evaluating supernatural phenomena in hotels, graveyards and other haunted places, usually debunking the mystery. While writing his last book, he travels from Los Angeles to New York to spend one night in the evil room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, which is permanently unavailable for guests. The reluctant manager Mr. Gerald Olin objects to his request and offers an upgrade, expensive booze and finally the reports relating the death of more than fifty guests along decades in the cursed room. However, Mike threatens Mr. Oiln, promising to sue the hotel, and finally checks in the room. Along the night, he finds that guests of room 1408 can check in when they like, but they can never leave the room alive.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | book | writer | debunking | hotel manager | 

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Taglines:

The Dolphin Hotel invites you to stay in any of its stunning rooms. Except one.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de] Official site [tw]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Soba 1408

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,073,963 (UK) (31 August 2007)

Gross:

$71,975,611 (USA) (5 October 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Weinstein Company, The, Di Bonaventura Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 112 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mike Enslin has a Chicago White Sox hat. Chicago is John Cusack's home town. Also, in a previous film, Eight Men Out, Cusack portrayed White Sox third-baseman George "Buck" Weaver. Cusack himself is a both a devoted Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox fan. He has said so in numerous interviews.

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Goofs

When Lily Enslin gets into the cab, the medallion number changes from the outside shot of her entering the vehicle, to when she is shown on the inside.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mike Enslin: Hi. Mike Enslin. Checking in.

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Connections

Referenced in Yes Man (2008)

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Soundtracks

"We've Only Just Begun"
Written by Roger Nichols (as Roger S. Nichols) and Paul Williams (as Paul H. Williams)
Performed by The Carpenters
Courtesy of A&M Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Effective Ghost Story

Just when you thought it was safe to check into a New York City hotel, along comes Mikael Hafstrom's chilling "1408." Not since Norman Bates terrorized guests at his motel has a paying customer received such treatment during a night's lodging. Although somewhat more cerebral than viscerally frightening, "1408" delivers its share of shocks and frights, and viewers will stay in their seats not to miss the film's twists and swerves. In a cruel blow to fans of 1970's soft rock, listening to the Carpenters' hit "We've Only Just Begun" afterward may stimulate nightmares and certainly will never be the same again.

John Cusack, a cynical writer who has sunk from producing intimate novels to hack work about haunted inns, is lured to a Manhattan hotel where room 1408 is off limits to visitors, because of its long history of inhospitality. With only a knapsack, but tons of baggage from family misfortunes, Cusack insists on a night in room 1408, despite the management's objections. Cusack triumphs over the staff and settles into the chamber's banal decor, which he idly describes piece by piece into his pocket recorder for the intended article. The evening starts to look like a genuine snooze, when the room's unsettling turn-down service, a chorus from the Carpenters, and a radio that begins an ominous countdown unnerve both Cusack and viewers.

Although the "night in a haunted house" routine has been done endlessly since movies began, Hafstrom for the most part effectively plays his audience with an eerie, often jarring, soundtrack, clever cutting, and a minimum of effects. "1408" is a ghost story, not a horror or slasher flick, and, as effective haunting tales have shown ("The Haunting," "The Uninvited"), the unknown, the unseen, and the unexplained are far more frightening than CGI effects. Although reminiscent of "The Shining," another Stephen King adaptation, this film was evidently made on a modest budget. Thus, Hafstrom worked largely with a one hotel-suite set and one mid-level actor. Besides Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson also appears as the enigmatic hotel manager, who warns Cusack about the room, yet seems to know more that he shares. Cusack is fine as always and carries the film effortlessly and literally through Hell and high water. While perhaps not as scary as the premise suggests, "1408" nevertheless provides intelligent entertainment for lovers of old fashioned ghost stories.