IMDB Score: 7.9/10

My Score 9/10

Short Summary: A solid Stephen King film that does justice to the horror film genre.

Review: First off, if you're looking for a review that compares the movie to the book, then this is not it. I have not read any of Stephen King's books nor do I plan to. But as a stand alone project, 1408 is a very entertaining film that is well worth the money spent to get in theaters.

The movie is a pyschological thriller that keeps the audience guessing, for the most part. While there were times where I could obviously see what was coming next, there were others where I thought I had it figured out and I was smacked in the face with a surprise that changed everything. Combined with excellent acting, big name stars, a well written script, and the screams of everyone else in the audience, this movie lives up to Stephen King's previous works.

*SPOILERS*

The movie starts off introducing John Cusack's character. The movie does a good job of making the audience empathize with this character from the get-go, and it makes it all the more horrible for the audience when he seals his impending fate by checking into room 1408. His character is a paranormal investigator/author who writes about haunted places for his readers. He receives a postcard one day from the Dolphin Hotel in NYC that simply says "Do not enter 1408." Good advice, if you ask me.

Of course, the movie would go no where if he didn't check into 1408. A brief but solid performance from Sam Jackson, playing the hotel manager trying to convince Cusack not to stay in 1408, further draws the viewer into the story.

The thing I loved most about this movie was the fact that it didn't go for the blood and gore scare tactics a la Hostel and Saw. It chose to go with good old shocking moments. However, my favorite scary scene had no scare to it at all. Cusack's deceased daughter appears before him, "alive," and starts to hug him. Everyone in the audience is touched... and then the daughter simply falls limp. Dead. Everyone in the audience was expecting her to turn into a zombie child and scare the bajeezus out of everyone, but this much simpler tactic sent shivers down my spine and everyone in the theater was quiet, mouths open. It was a kind of horror that movie-goers nowadays aren't used to, and that is why I absolutely loved it.

*END SPOILERS*

All in all, if you're looking for an exciting night that will have you at the edge of your seat, I definitely recommend this movie.

In other news: Playing through God of War 2, I'm about half-way through. I also saw Evan Almighty. It was good, but I'm not going to write a review. I'll give it an 7.7/10. Good movie for the family to go see together.

That's all, folks.