The cynical and skeptical writer Mike Enslin writes books evaluating supernatural phenomena in hotels, graveyards and other haunted places, usually debunking the mystery. While writing his last book, he travels from Los Angeles to New York to spend one night in the evil room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, which is permanently unavailable for guests. The reluctant manager Mr. Gerald Olin objects to his request and offers an upgrade, expensive booze and finally the reports relating the death of more than fifty guests along decades in the cursed room. However, Mike threatens Mr. Oiln, promising to sue the hotel, and finally checks in the room. Along the night, he finds that guests of room 1408 can check out when they like, but they can never leave the room alive. —IMDb
Jan Mikael Håfström (born 1 July 1960 in Lund), known as Mikael Håfström, is a Swedish screenwriter and director. Håfström directed the exorcism thriller The Rite, which is based on a novel from Matt Baglio. —Wikipedia
Que dire de ce film. Après une bonne entrée en matière, celui-ci vire vite au grand n'importe quoi dans un déluge d’effets spéciaux infructueux. Le tout sous la houlette d'un scénario manquant cruellement d'imagination et qui tourne rapidement en rond. John Cusack, acteur que j'apprécie pourtant, ne réussit même pas à sauver les meubles et le spectateur sombre très vite dans l’ennui devant ce triste spectacle.
Even better on a second viewing, Hafstrom's adaptation is very well executed but it's certainly not perfect and I found the ending to be notably disappointing. Still, it's an accomplishment to make a horror this terrifying and intense in this day-and-age and Cusack delivers with one of his craziest performances.
(Originally written June 28, 2007)
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