Review: ‘1408’ drags despite Cusack’s charm

Directed by: Mikael Håfström

Starring: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson

Rated: R

On the comprehensive Web site the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), uber-prolific writer Stephen King has 107 titles listed, and no less than seven of them are presently in various stages of pre- and post- production. That should come as no surprise to anyone who still does, or ever has, followed King’s career. He releases new offerings at a pace that would allow him to have his own branded book-of-the week club.

Quantity doesn’t always equate to quality, nor does market share. Some of King’s books – even ones that sold well – have been glaringly “paint-by-the-numbers” affairs, and while his work has been translated to the big screen with success a number of times, there has been plenty of less-than-top-notch films based on his work.

Early on, King fans began complaining that his highly revered works were being butchered on-screen. “The Shining,” directed by film icon Stanley Kubrick took its shots and, while it was different in some ways from the book, many consider it a modern horror classic. The same can’t be said of “Cujo” or “Christine.”

The harbinger of what was to be a King plot device came with 1990’s “It.” “It” was a TV miniseries with one of the most ludicrous final-act plot twists in the history of filmmaking, so I just had to read the book to see if it was really King’s fault. The villain in the book and film in the beginning appears to be a malevolent clown. Plenty of folks have a fear of clowns, and it really was a nice set-up: Children of a small town had been disappearing, and the clown was obviously involved. But we learn late into the tale, the clown was really the manifestation of a spider living in outer space. The only thing a thinking view could say was, “What the ... ?”

King’s latest

The latest film (that’s been released or allowed to escape) based on a King work is Mikael Håfström’s “1408.”

I can only think of two kind words to use in describing the film: “John Cusack.” This is basically a one-man show, and Cusack is such an affable, skilled actor that he nearly pulls it off, despite 30-plus minutes of fake-ending drivel. The opening scenes – where Samuel L. Jackson makes a few brief appearances – are promising and a welcome departure from the new “Hostel” and “Saw” breed of horror where the motto is “More gore!” But by the third trick ending, the most horrific thought was the fact King has seven more films due for release in the near future.

Cusack’s character is writer Mike Enslin, who has slipped into rather formulaic, mundane prose. Write what you know, I suppose, Mr. King. Enslin’s latest books have been a series of tomes debunking supernatural oddities.

The latest investigation involves a room at New York’s prestigious Dolphin Hotel. Room No. 1408 has seen more than 50 deaths in the hotel’s 100-year history. Owners and management strongly discourage anyone from booking the room, but Enslin’s lawyer assures him he can sue if denied access to any particular available room.

Cusack shines

After Jackson, the hotel manager, tries to bribe his famous client into choosing any other room in the hotel, Enslin moves in.

These first scenes, those of a writer who is as meticulous as he is a man who has long since lost his faith in any higher power – good or evil – are the movie’s best. Enslin begins by speaking – completely by rote – into his portable recording device. He describes the room as being rather mundane, which it appears to be, and is sure all of the legends surrounding the place are about to be debunked.

It isn’t long before strange things begin happening. The most horrifying is the fact that the clock radio, which has reset itself to a 60-minute countdown timer, repeatedly blares the Carpenter’s song, “We’ve Only Just Begun.” It’s an obvious choice, but that really is a scary song.

Enslin goes through horrific episodes, and we come to see he has some real ghosts haunting his psyche.

But as King’s story and director Håfström’s film goes through one dead-end ending after another, it all becomes rather tedious, even despite Cusack’s talent and charm.

If you want a really creepy movie that takes place in a hotel/motel room or some reasonable facsimile of one, current films like “Bug” or “Vacancy” are much more affecting. And if you can find it, (check Netflix) Roman Polanski’s “The Tenant” is sheer terror.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.