WHAT A TRIP
Written: Jun 25 '07 (Updated Jun 25 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cusak, Jackson, great effects and imagery
Cons: Not enough Sam Jackson, an ending that should have been a bit more climactic
The Bottom Line: Go see this psycho-thriller... It's quite a trip.
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| criteeker's Full Review: 1408 |
2007's psycho-thriller, "1408" takes us on a journey into the abyss of an imagination that just happens to belong to Stephen King.
What do you get when you cross a 'mind trip' film like Jacob's Ladder with a film where the central character learns lessons after experiencing some traumatic event or nightmare? Rod Serling's Twilight Zone? Maybe if the Zone was on steroids. Yeah, there's a definite Twilight Zone influence in this film which makes it even more fun to watch. Sometimes, I prefer films that make you think and take you in many directions while using most of your senses. This film does that very well. You may want to see it again to spot other things you may have missed and it will definitely cause deep conversations about the premise and ending.
John Cusak plays a writer whose job it is to tell of ghostly hotels and inns all across America and, yet, debunk them. You see, he has not seen a ghost and wants to tell everyone about it.
So what does a Californian do to relieve stress? Yup, he goes surfing. During a surfing excursion he has an "accident" which (I thought) may or may not have caused him to slip into a coma or die. This is left to our imaginations on purpose. Very deceptive, Mr. King.
One day, Cusak is sent a postcard from a particular hotel with the taunt, "Don't stay in 1408." Of course he laughs it off, travels to New York and worms his way passed a very determined manager played by Samuel Jackson.
Jackson's determined NOT to allow Cusak to enter room 1408. He even offers him a penthouse suite, in fact. After all, no one has lasted more than a hour in that room and Sam doesn't wish to clean up the mess. Many have died in the room over the many years - or maybe they died because of the room. Did Jackson send the postcard?
I think I can speak for most movie-goers on the planet when I say, that Sam Jackson is loved as an actor. His power and presence are something to behold. Well, this film's only real flaw is not having more of Sam in the film.
After a lengthy cat & mouse game with Jackson, Cusak enters a seemingly majestic and serene room with its dated Americana decor.
This is where the fun begins. Very slowly, creepy things start to happen (which I will not convey here). I will say that the song they chose to use really takes on a whole new meaning in a very creepy way. The use of an alarm clock ticking down from 60 minutes was also very creepy. The closer to zero the clock got, the more intense it got for Cusak.
I must praise director, Mikael Hafstrom ("Derailed"), for his use of warped and pulsating sounds to set a very disturbing atmosphere. I also must praise the production designer and the whole art department for their sets. Setting and resetting the sets must have been a chore. They had to endure snow, water, fire and claustrophobia and then do it all over again and again. Finally, I must praise the special effects team for their masterful job creating a room with a mind of its own.
Another praise goes to the script. First off, to write a script based on Stephan King must have been a chore in and of itself. It's sheer brilliance to write a script that basically takes place in ONE location. Sure there are a few other short-scene locations, but what a great idea. Most of the budget probably went to Cusak and Jackson.
Cusak did a masterful job trying to keep his cool and try to keep his wits about him. All the while using his micro-cassette recorder to take notes on what he was experiencing. The room even changes what he says and that was creepy. In one instance, Cusak watches as a ghost leaps to her death but before she hits pavement, she somehow disappears. Cusak uses his rational mind to toss a lamp out the window and the same thing happens. Is this the line between reality and imagination? Should he jump to see? Or is it a trick to get Cusak to leap to his death? Very tense moment. In an equally tense scene, Cusak is trapped in 1408 and he tries to ease out on the exterior ledge to get into the next room. The room has a surprise for him that will freak you out.
If you know Stephan King's mind at all, you'll know that he likes to take you in many directions and leave you thinking about possible meanings or realities. So I walk away with so many questions to resolve. Was Cusak really dead the entire time like in Jacob's Ladder? Did the room want his wife to show up to hurt her too? Was the room teaching Cusak to cherish his life instead of taking it for granted? Did he really go through the hellish nightmare that is room 1408? Or did he imagine it in his mind while being in a hospital room? We are left to decipher what reality is and what the other dimension is. The ending, when he played the recorder, did that solidify his new-found belief in ghosts and the afterlife? Or did he imagine that as well. Did Sam Jackson entice Cusak to come to the room to beat it at its own game and lift the curse?
Parents: There's no real gore, no nudity and very little swearing, but the scary elements might frighten small children.
Stephen King's inspiration for this film came from a collection of news stories about parapsychologist Christopher Chacon's investigation of a haunted room at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California.
See this film for the visuals and the use of eerie sounds to whisk the character (and its audience) away from their own reality.
I really did enjoy this film and I will be buying the DVD when it comes out. I hope there are lots of extras and 'behind the scene' stuff on the DVD. I want to see how many more intricate facets I can discover.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Scary Movie
Viewing Method: Studio Screening/Premiere
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Plot
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