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Bookmark this page1408 (2007)
Director: Mikael Håfström
Movie review
From Time Out London
A polished Stephen King adaptation from Swedish director Mikael Håfström (‘Derailed’), whose taut psychological chiller is tarnished only by outstaying its welcome towards the end. It’s virtually a one-man show for John Cusack, as a jaded debunker of paranormal phenomena whose curiosity is piqued by an anonymous postcard about Room 1408 at New York’s Dolphin Hotel. So he checks in, dismissing as sales patter hotel manager Samuel L Jackson’s forceful warning that, ‘it’s a an evil fucking room’.
Once inside, however, the cynical Cusack is assailed not only by malevolent supernatural forces, but also his own inner demons – painful memories of the death of his daughter and the subsequent collapse of his marriage. His increasing paranoia and psychological unravelling therefore have an affecting emotional dimension, although the flashbacks and a badly misjudged false ending take us out of the room and undercut the sense of claustrophobia. Håfström stages the set-piece scares with skill, helped by Benoît Delhomme’s imaginative cinematography and some nice creepy touches: notably, a clock radio that only plays The Carpenters’ ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’.
Author: Nigel Floyd
Time Out London Issue 1932: August 29-September 4 2007
User reviews of this film
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- lebyvr said...
- Posted on Jun 27 2008 06:28 I loved the first 1/2 hour , scary. the rest of the movie was ok with lots of complications and mysteries that wont be revealed which I hate , great acting . lots of effects which ruins the movie, why can't horror movies be simple without computer effects with such great actors.!
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- Stuart said...
- Posted on Mar 08 2008 11:14 Billed as a psychological thriller, this film did exactly what it said on the tin. Screwed with my brain and left me glued to a TV that I didn't want to watch! Awesome ending aswell!
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- frank the cut said...
- Posted on Oct 05 2007 13:07 great film punjabi mc makes a dramatic cameo towards the end which was gret and the storyline was well ratu but piece confusin at time but sameways big film on road
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- Kiesha said...
- Posted on Oct 03 2007 17:43 I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS FILM! It Was Truly Amazing! One of the best films i've ever seen in my life! I Screamed in the cinemas! jus genius film! has u sitting at the end of chair all the way till the end. Its A Must See! I Would defoo see it again and highly recommend it!
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- Tina said...
- Posted on Sep 24 2007 13:22 I wasn't overly fussed on this film, it's practically 2 hours off just one man in a room. John Cusack's acting was marvellous, and he was brilliant in it. But there wasn't much in it that hasn't been done in other horror films, not much new here, have seen better scary movies.
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- Tom guest said...
- Posted on Sep 24 2007 13:13 I actually only went to see this because everything else had already started, and Im SO glad I did!!! John Cusak is one of the greatest actors around, and although predicatable at times, there wasnt a single second where I wasnt entertained. Go see this film!
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- Boris said...
- Posted on Sep 21 2007 23:00 Good film, although as "scary" as a bowl of sprouts. Honestly, people!
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- Ash said...
- Posted on Sep 19 2007 15:13 Cool film, my ma8 screamed! fote it was gd bt confuzzling
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- punjaban said...
- Posted on Sep 18 2007 18:50 Gd film and its worth seeing. Its abit scary and like someone has already nmentioneed it is abit confusing towards the end. I must admit I did jump at times and nearly pd my pants.... lol
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- cheryl said...
- Posted on Sep 18 2007 13:14 wicked film well worth watching!!!!!!
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- josey said...
- Posted on Sep 15 2007 20:05 Really enjoyed and it has such cool twists and turns all the way through.
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- tracey said...
- Posted on Sep 15 2007 16:23 im still shackin from this movie it was most deffo the scariest flim iv ever seen gosh my poor boyfriends hand i nearly broke it **SORRY BABE** best acting ever well done on this flick everyone go see it u'll br kickin yourself if u dont.. fuckin brill flim xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
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- fatmike said...
- Posted on Sep 14 2007 23:17 a well made film,goodstory,goodacting from john cusack,wellworth watching
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- Bea said...
- Posted on Sep 13 2007 11:54 It was scary, can't say I really enjoyed it, I was watching it through my fingers! I know, light weight.
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- Nic said...
- Posted on Sep 13 2007 09:23 Excellent film. Kept us gripped till the end
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Cast & crew
Director: Mikael Håfström
Producer: Lorenzo Di Bonaventura
Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub, Jasmine Jessica Anthony full cast
Genre(s): Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers
Rated: 15
Duration: 105 mins
UK Release: Aug 31 2007
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