To date, 100 of Stephen King’s novels, novellas, short stories, and even suggestions have been adapted into either motion pictures or mini-series. Naturally, King holds the Guinness World Record of having the most motion picture adaptations by a living author. Of these 100, the bright spots include: The Shining, Misery, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile. Now, add 1408 to the list; this gripping thriller rises with the aforementioned as one of the better features spawned from King source material.
Yet again, King follows his typical form in featuring a lead character who's a writer. After showing huge promise with his debut novel, Mike Enslin (John Cusack) finds himself drudging through book after book reporting on paranormal phenomena. Since losing his young daughter (Jasmine Jessica Anthony) and separating from his wife (Mary McCormack), Enslin has fallen into a mid-life crisis funk.
As research for his latest book, Enslin attempts to stay in New York City’s Dolphin Hotel. But the one room that Enslin wishes to occupy just so happens to be booked for an eternity. That room is 1408.
After an intense debate with the hotel manager, Mr. Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin receives the key to the reportedly evil room. From this point on, Enslin experiences a series of escalating events that cause him to rethink the notion that all ghostly disturbances are man-made. All the while, The Carpenters so eloquently sing, “We’ve Only Just Begun.”
No doubt, 1408 is a mind trip from normal to paranormal. The picture transports you to another realm where paintings come alive, wives and children haunt, electronics go haywire, and things definitely aren’t what they seem. By the time the credits roll, 1408 leaves you questioning whether the current world you live in is real or artificial, and that is perhaps the film’s most powerful effect.
Article comments
1 - Michael Griffin
what was th importance of the cigarette? it seems as though it had some sort of superstisios meaning in itself, however i had no idea of what it meant and looking up superstitions did not help either.
2 - Brandon Valentine
The cigarette in itself purely stood for Enslin's end-all. The fact that Enslin carried the cigarette even after admitting to quitting smoking is a testament to his beliefs.
Even though Enslin never saw anything that rattled his mind in any of the haunted facilities, he still had to have an unlit cigarette in an ashtray at all times (superstitious compulsion). Just in case hell broke lose, Enslin was equipped for a final puff. After-all, why die miserable and without nicotine in your bloodstream?