1408 (2007)

Idea: Author Michael Enslin (John Cusack) specializes in debunking paranormal phenomena. He receives an anonymous postcard that prompts him to check into room 1408 at New York's Dolphin Hotel, despite heavy protestations from the general manager, Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson).

I suspect it must be difficult to play Stephen King's stand-in. I know I wouldn't want to do it. Are you a prick because you sold-out or because you're bereaved? Why must you have such terrible highlights in your hair? What's with your clothes? Are you not yet folksy Uncle Steven, dispenser of pop culture wisdom and homespun truisms?

I also suspect it must be difficult to be the leading man in a situation that basically consists of you alone in a room for an hour, reacting to whatever the evil room throws at you, whether it's a little man in your mini-bar fridge or an alarm clock that only plays one song. There are quite a few times when poor Cusack is yelling things like, "What do you want from me?!" at his room, and you have to try really hard not to laugh.

I also suspect that it must feel kind of stupid to leave the reason as to why the room behaves as it does open-ended, considering the fact that CW shows like Supernatural come up with a reason 22 weeks a year.

Finally, I suspect that it must be tough to be John Cusack, who turns 41 tomorrow. He's old enough to play start playing the dad, which I guess is good news, considering that his bread-and-butter, romantic comedies, are a dying breed. But, let's try to stay away from this stuff, shall we? Doing Grisham is bad enough. Let's leave Stephen King alone.

Director Mikael Håfström delivers a few chills and genuinely scary moments, but it's enough to distract from how boring the movie often is. In addition, I had come to expect better of you, composer Gabriel Yared. I think judicious trimming and a shorter set-up could have done this movie some favours, but, as it is, it's not quite right. C