Mike Enslin spends his life reviewing supposedly haunted tourist destinations, giving each place a skull rating out of 10. He's my kinda guy. But Mike has a tragic past that he keeps buttoned down with a cynicism that doesn't allow for belief in ghosts.
So, when he gets an invitation not to stay in room 1408 at New York's Dolphin Hotel, he can't resist. You see, some 56 people have died in Room 1408 since the hotel was built and no guest has lasted longer than an hour.
Based on a Stephen King short story, 1408 is an appealingly creepy tale. It's classily directed, tightly scripted and takes the time to establish character and build suspense.
John Cusack hasn't had much luck with roles lately but he really fits into the part of Mike.
He's our entry into the supernatural world and it's great fun to see his scepticism stripped away.
Cusack is often on screen alone, and he carries the film very well.
Credit also goes to Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom for making the evil room a big enough visual landscape to keep us interested and yet small enough to keep us scared.
Despite the strength of the script, one of the twists - which takes a long time to set up - is very easy to pick and, as is almost always the case with Stephen King's work, the story doesn't quite know how to end.
1408 might not be on par with The Shining, but it's one of the better King adaptations and it's great to see Cusack back on form in a horror movie that doesn't rely on gore and cheap shocks.
Thriller fans will want to check into 1408, which rates three and a half skulls. 1408 is in cinemas now.
