1408

Audiences have become obsessed with gore. And no I don't mean Al Gore, but bloody, limb losing, stomach turning gore. Horror films have lost their "jump in my seat" affect. The studio's become wealthier with every blood fest they release, but these movies just don't have the thrill they used to have. Given, the occasional gruesome feature does have the bird popping out or a broom suddenly falling to make me jump. But for the most part scary movies have lost their best quality, the excitement! It's the unsettling feeling in my stomach of not knowing whats around the corner, not knowing Who or What is going to pop out at me next. 1408 is the first movie I have seen in a while that has brought that thrill back to the movies. It has all the thrill of venturing through haunted house without actually having to turn a corner or leave a room.
I was slightly hesitant wanting to see this movie, it being written by Stephen King and all. Generally his movies these days consist of oddball horrors that don't make much sense to his story line or are not well developed when turned into a feature film. But this one looked decent in the trailer and anything with John Cusack is a good selling point for me (and every girl who has seen Say Anything). I was also very excited to see Samuel L. Jackson in something that did not involve snakes in the movie nor the title. He definitely contributed to movie's eerie nature which made it flow like one long haunted house that you weren't sure you would ever find the end.
A little background:
John Cusack is a writer who stays in "supposedly" haunted places and writes about them. He has all kinds of tools to detect for spirits or haunted occurences but has yet to truly experience anything. He finds out about this room 1408 at a hotel in New York. He decides it would be perfect for his book and decides to go stay in it. Samuel L. Jackson, the manager of the hotel, tries everything in his power to talk him out of staying in that room. Cusack insists and Samuel L. allows him to.
The movie is full of "jump in your seat" moments. It has a very twilight zone and Disneyland's haunted mansion feel to it. It takes you on a haunted maze without every having to leave room 1408. The acting is very good (Cusack usually is good), and the effects are very well done. The movie messes with your head, almost like you've taken some bad acid. It makes you feel, like they refer to in the movie "like you've fallen down the rabbit hole". It's scary and taunting, it makes you nervous and jumpy without ever having to sever a head or have a blood bath of any sort. I highly reccomend this movie if your looking for the same excitement you get from walking through a haunted house. It makes you want to do it all over again!
I would it give it an A!!!