- stars John Cusak and Samuel L Jackson.
- Cusak plays a skeptic who makes his living by publishing his investigations into paranormal events. He insists on staying in a haunted room in the Dolphin Hotel despite numerous warnings and stories of the 56 deaths that have occurred in that room by manager (played by Jackson)
- People who enter the room have an hour to survive and the film takes you alongside Cusak in his hour in the hotel room.
- The clever film work and subtle special effects add to the suspense build up, my favourite being the cracked, bleeding wall, holograms of previous visitors to room 1408, and the scene where there are multiple explosions followed by a flooding of the room.
- There is a convincing performance from Cusak, who suprisingly draws you in to the story, helped by the fact there are frequent flashbacks to his life, building your 'relationship' with the character and you do end up feeling emphatic towards him, which is unsual for me as I don't normally get impressed by thrillers due to their unrealistic events... but this film manages to stay on the right side of thrill and suspense without getting too carried away- you really are battling along the way on what side of reality you should be on.
- The camera picks up on various little hints, and often reverts to showing you what the character would actually see, then quickly going back to surrounding views. There are quick flashes of genius throughout this film, thanks mainly to the film work.
- The hotel reminds me a little of the one we stayed in when we went to New York, and Cusak is right at the very beginning when he states that 'all hotel rooms are creepy'
- Overall, even though when the trailers come out for it in the cinema and I thought that it looked rubbish, this is a really impressive film and I definatley would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of a thriller!
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