1408

I finally got to see 1408 (I was out of the country when it was released in the U.S. earlier this year) and it's definitely one of the better Stephen King adaptations. From what I remember, it sticks pretty close to the original story apart from adding more action and a subplot with the writer's wife. There's even a scene where the protagonist attempts to escape the room by going out the window that recalls "The Ledge" story from King's own Cat's Eye movie.

The film builds the suspense slowly before unleashing some pretty unsettling imagery. It's refreshing, in this age of unnecessary remakes designed for audiences too young to remember the original (I'm looking in your direction, Rob Zombie) and "torture porn", to see a film that recalls the old school thrills of classics like The Shining and Jacob's Ladder.

1408 is also aided by a small but talented cast, which includes John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Cusack in particular does a really good job holding the film together during the long part of the film where it's just him talking (or shouting) to an empty room.

At one point I feared the filmmakers were going to use the dreaded "it was all a dream" ending, but luckily it twists that around and opts for a more dramatic conclusion. However, without going into spoilers, I will say that the final scene is left open for a number of different interpretations about the true fate of Cusack's character.

The direction is stylish and the scares are efficiently handled. On the Stephen King adaptation quality-o-meter it ranks well above films like Firestarter and Needful Things and almost as high as The Shining and Stand By Me. I highly recommend it, though it may make you think twice about staying in a hotel room again, at least on your own.