The Plot: A man (John Cusack) who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.
The Pros: This is refreshingly scary. I haven't seen a horror movie this well-done in ages. John Cusack plays the character of Mike Enslin with stunning authenticity. Add to that the brilliant sound work, and 1408 keeps you on your toes the entire time.
The Cons: Not much, but the camera work in the first 30-45 minutes of the film was a bit jumpy. Too many cuts and too many unnecessary shots. Also, the relationship between Cusack and his wife could have been fleshed out more.
The Bottom Line: This is what the "horror" genre is supposed to be. 1408 is a well-paced, genuinely scary piece of film, and one that you won't want to miss while it's in theaters. I only wish the relationship between Cusack's character and his wife could have meant more. But, if you like this kind of movie, and you want to get the pants scared off of you, this is your flick.
The Score: 8 / 10
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Regarding the cons (particularly the first 30-45 minutes of the film), are there way too many oblique camera angles utilized? Liberal use of these types of camera angles is my horror genre pet peeve. Lots of shitty horror films go straight for the dutch tilt, bypassing all exposition or important, introductory plot beats. And, then, they rely on the slants to carry to the film all the way through and even go so far as to include one in every scene. It drives me nuts. I've been meaning to see this film for awhile, but I'm not going if it over-does the obliques. Are you a fan of the Saw trilogy?
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you that 1408 only utilizes these cheap angles for the first few minutes of the film...after that, it pretty much goes away.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're good to go!
(Also, I am a fan of the Saw movies, but only for the violence)
...only for the violence?
ReplyDeleteBlasphemy!