Aug 24, 2007 the problem with haunted hotel chillers is that hotels arent very scary. Of course, unlike all the other haunted places hes been in, room 1408 turns out to be the real deal. Jun 22, 2007 spoiler points for the movie 1408 2007. I was disappointed to find a few of the best bits from the trailer ended up on the cutting room floor. Canadian networks space and the movie network, and. His publisher tony shaloub involves a lawyer, who invokes a civil rights law, and gets mike the booking. Thats what gerald olin tells us in explanation as to why the hotel room uses an oldfashioned key.
Finally, just to keep the motif going, the movie was released on june 22, 2007, yet another. Mike cant resist, especially after he tries to book that room and is told it is never available and is then hung up on. What i mainly believe happens in 1408 is that you are given an hour of hell, where your worst nightmares and vulnerabilities are attacked. Even the postcard that first informs enslin about the room says, dont enter 1408, 9 letters and 4 digits equals. Based on the short stephen king horror story of the same name, 1408 is about supernatural writer mike enslin, an author of two successful books on supernatural phenomena. How does mikes past become part of the room s arsenal of disturbing imagery.
When he was unlocking the door to room 1408, i had chills down my spine. I soon learned, however, that the theatrical version, whose ending was added after. Mike then walks back into the destroyed room 1408 and, ghostlike, fades through the door. This movie, based on enslins most terrifying encounter, would receive a solid eight skulls. Then mike actually arrives in room 1408, and things cool off a bit. Fortunately, 1408 is the first movie in years decades.
Stephen kings 1408 2007 endings explained duration. Take it at face value and its a normal ending with the main character getting out alive but his recorder happened to have caught the part where he spoke to his daughter in 1408 as the wife looks on in disbelief to unsettle the audience and give it an ominous feel as opposed to a cheezy happy ending it seemed to be headed for. He visits haunted places to prove that ghosts do not exist and gives scientific explanation of the happenings. The story is based on a short story written by steven king and directed by mikael hafstrom. I was interested in seeing 1408 when it first came out over ten years ago, but i didnt want to get strung along for a stephen king ending. If the room can control everything, it can control everything. As for what you said in your post, though, i want to disagree or at least add an addendum. The final sentence of the plot synopsis currently reads. Like many of kings work, its never explained why the room is evil, its just something that resides in the room that is evil. So that while the movie 1408 follows horror writer mike enslins discovery of, and subsequent terrifying stay, within the dolphin hotels room 1408.
I first created this page just to make room 1408 have profile picture since there wasnt any when you liked the movie. If a concierge tells you to stay out of a room, you want to see the room. The fact that its on the th floor and 1408 adds up to just makes it worse, superstitiously, so perhaps thats why the evilness chose that room. Here are a few movie mistakes to look for while watching 1408.
That 1408 is based on a stephen king short story adds another degree of selfreflexivity a work about debunking from the grand master of mystery. The room has more in store for mike enslin than he could ever imagine. It stars john cusack as a supernatural investigator who rents room 1408 at the hotel dolphin in new york. Joe queenan on why haunted hotel movie 1408 isnt very scary. Behind every good story lies, at the very least, a small amount of truth. His publisher tony shaloub involves a lawyer, who invokes a. It is said to be a most haunted room and the scene of many deaths. Even if by the closing act the movie has begun to feel a bit preposterous enter the giant sea storm and the resolution a bit saccharine, thats a small price to pay for a movie thats trying. After listening to the recording, and hearing his daughters voice on it, his wife steps back in shock and horror as they both realize mikes adventure in room 1408 was in fact real. How does the movie make room 1408 seem scary before viewers even see the inside. So that while the movie 1408 follows horror writer mike enslins discovery of, and subsequent terrifying. With time, as the horrors mount, the writer looks to the word for comfort and discovers that all its pages are now blank. His tapes are also completely worthless and dont convince anyone of anything.
Now, as is the case with many of lifes most profound epiphanies, the writer who thought he knew it all is caught entirely off guard at the precise moment he least expected it. So, enslin enters 1408, and thats where the story begins. Sometimes the best ending to a movie isnt the one that ends up in the theatrical release. After the hour is up, everything in the hotel resets to as it was when the countdown began. Mar 08, 20 how about movie 1408 where john cusack plays a writer who investigates and writes books about haunted places throughout america but is himself skeptical about the paranormal, having apparently never experienced anything that he could not explain. Mike enslin john cusack survives the hour within the room, but realizes the evil force within. The main character in the movie is mike enslin, played by john cusack imdb.
Its not that a film consisting of nothing other than john cusack alone in a hotel room for an hour cant be scary indeed, i can think of few things more bonechilling, but not here. First off, 1408 was directed by mikael hafstrom, the brilliant filmmaker behind evil, which was released a couple of years ago about a german boarding school. The room has to let the firemen in to save mike in order to save itself. Jackson, tries everything to discourage mike from staying in the room, but mike stubbornly refuses. In 2002, 1408 was collected in written form as the 12th story in kings collection everythings eventual.
Spoiler alert alternate ending the directors cut contains a more tragic ending. Apr 06, 2019 the only wrong thing about room 1408 in the movie 1408 is your mind. Mike enslin john cusack is a successful author who enjoys worldwide acclaim debunking supernatural phenomena before he checks into the dolphin hotel, that is. Joe queenan checks into room 1408, based on a stephen king short story, and finds room for improvement. The real place that inspired 1408 is a hotel in california. In this video i attempt to analysis the meaning behind the infamous film 1408, based in the well known short story by stephen king. While the movie, and the stephen king short story from which it was adapted are works of fiction, both. After a series of torments, mike talks to a hotel operator from the phone in 1408 and asks why they dont just kill him and get it over with. How does mikes past become part of the rooms arsenal of disturbing imagery. He survives with extensive third degree burns, but he lives the rest of his life alone and in fear. Joe queenan on why haunted hotel movie 1408 isnt very. It was because of the truth i found out behind the movie.
In the introduction to the story, king says that 1408 is his version of what he calls the ghostly room at the inn, his term for the theme of haunted hotel or. The room is pushing him to kill himself, ending up like all its other inhabitants, but mike burns the room down instead, and the hotel is evacuated and he is taken out. I took something a little differently away from the movie this time. As research for his latest book, enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a new york city hotel by personally staying as a guest in the fabled room. Jackson, mary mccormack, tony shalhoub, len cariou, isiah whitlock, jr.
The paranormal the real 1408 story the hotel del coronado. The choice is yours either you be victim or fight and make the opponent victim. Enslin isnt just trapped in a haunted room, hes trapped in his own mind. This is why i was initially prepared to cut 1408 all the slack it needed, even though it stars john cusack. What was actually wrong with room 1408 in the movie. Check out these far more entertaining alternate endings. Both highly suspenseful and deeply emotional, room is a unique and touching exploration of the boundless love between a mother and her child. For me it was when he was seeing his own reflection in the other window, and the lady appears behind him. Nov 17, 2017 1408 has none of those trademarks, but it does star john cusack, who at the time was in the midst of a fourteenyear hiatus from respectability, and led me to believe that the movie wouldnt be any good. The ending can be confusing to younger viewers but i think it should be 15 or older. Watch 1408 starring john cusack in this horror on directv.
Can anyone explain the plot and ending of the movie 1408. As soon as he settles, he experiences visions of ghosts who have died in the room. Occult writer michael enslin is determined to challenge the legend by staying one night in room 1408. They simply try to play with your mind and inner mindpsychology.
You would have been right at home in a horror movie, mr. My biggest issue is with the interpretation of the short story. Ending spoiler for 1408 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Later in the night, he finds that guests of room 1408, once they have checked in, might never leave the room. Jul 16, 2018 i was interested in seeing 1408 when it first came out over ten years ago, but i didnt want to get strung along for a stephen king ending. Writer mike enslin, an author of two hit books, focuses on supernatural phenomena. The problem with haunted hotel chillers is that hotels arent very scary. This movie is great with the insane mind of stephen kings gut turning stories. This is a longstanding and wellknown position of mine. The film follows mike enslin, an author who investigates allegedly haunted houses and rents the titular room 1408 at a new york city hotel. The phrase based on a story by stephen king, as a general rule, is far scarier than any movie thats actually based on a story by stephen king.
Places like room 1408 the overlook hotel, and hill house scare me because those places are somehow alive and evil and want us dead. Once the fireman opened the door, the room lost its power over mike enslin. But it was wellreceived and remains muchliked by movie buffs and king fans, so it seemed worth a go. Mike enslins experiences in room 1408, however, are not all illusion. The psychological thriller 1408 centers around room 1408 of the dolphin hotel of new york city in which there have been 56 deaths, a room from which most of the deaths were by suicide. Reviews were mostly positive and the film did well at the box office. Jun 22, 2007 jackson tells us the room is evil, and the production team comes up with a set that does seem elastically spiteful. Jackson tells us the room is evil, and the production team comes up with a set that does seem elastically spiteful. Although skeptical of the paranormal, he is soon trapped in the room where he experiences bizarre events.
The short story ends on a far more cynical note than the movie, with mike enslin setting himself on fire rather than the room to escape its horrible influence. The synopsis below may give away important plot points. Do you think strong emotions can continue to occupy a place. You may be thinking of the horror movie, 1408, or the movie pelham123 asked in james camerons avatar. If you like 1408 you might like similar movies the others, silent hill, the ring, dead silence, the uninvited. Oct 10, 2017 16 alternate movie endings that are way better than the originals. Apr 28, 2012 this is the 1408 ending that was shown in theatres, but it is not the ending that was released on the directors cut dvd so for anybody who caught the movie the first time round on dvd only.
In one vision, he sees his young daughter, and upon embracing her she crumbles away. But the events of the movie in his room are clearly of real supernatural origin such that both he. Until he enters the 1408, all of enslins interactions are even and subtle. In 1984 there was a hotel in new york, the name of the hotel wasnt mentioned for it was a classified information. If this movie ended after the build up to cusack entering the room, i would rate it an instant 55. He gets a postcard about a haunted hotel room in new york, room 1408, and decides to check in. Room 1408 is glacial one minute, deluged the next, a postapocalyptic ruin later on. As thrillers go, 1408 leaves too much room for fun the. Room 1408 isnt listed on any of the websites dealing with paranormal locations or psychic hotspots.
Spoiler points for the movie 1408 2007 click poster to purchase you have reached a brief spoiler for the film 1408. None of it is accompanied by any explanation of how or why. The idea of this piece was to highlight the organic which is. He keeps an audio recorder that he had used throughout the movie and. Then again, were led to believe this is more of a psychological thriller than an outandout ghost story. He gets a lead on a room at the dolphin hotel, room 1408, and goes to spend the night. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and smoke, released in 1999. Niedlugo pozniej dzieja sie inne dziwne rzeczy pokoj zalewa woda, a mikeowi wydaje sie, ze udalo mu sie wydostac z pokoju. But 1408 doesnt have no explanation, its explanation is simply its an evil fucking room.
Whats scary is that you never know why or how they are alive. The hotel manager gives him its grisly history, claiming that many deaths have occurred there and that no one lasts an hour. In room 1408, he finds a bible and tosses it aside. Mike enslin sets fire to 1408 but is not rescued by the fire department. Meticulously addressed to mike in california, it bears the simple message dont stay in room 1408. As research for his latest book, enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a new york city hotel by personally staying as a guest in the. The hidden meaning behind stephen kings 1408 youtube. Despite the hotel staffs unwillingness to let him stay in the room and the managers explanation of the fate of the room s guests, mike is undeterred. Despite what he originally thinks about the room, there is a sinister evil in the room that plans to unhinge him. It is directed by mikael hafstrom and stars john cusack, samuel l. And of course since the hotel doesnt have an official th floor, the floor room 1408 is on is actually. Alternate movie endings that are way better screenrant. The first 30 minutes were probably the most effective build up ive seen in a horror movie this side of the shining.
He receives an anonymous postcard in the mail telling him not to stay in room 1408 at the dolphin hotel in new york city. He says the box contains some of mikes belongings still left in the room. But 1408 doesnt have no explanation, its explanation is. The only wrong thing about room 1408 in the movie 1408 is your mind. An unsigned postcard in enslins mailbox simply warns him not to stay in room 1408 at new yorks. It is also a fine psychological horror movie and welcome change of pace from the ultra violent, gore polluted. Sep 28, 2007 that 1408 is based on a stephen king short story adds another degree of selfreflexivity a work about debunking from the grand master of mystery mythology. You could have played the gloomy old butler who tries to warn the young married couple way from castle doom.
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