The complex ma moves to is called independent living, a place where ma can live independently from the. It would help the section on room 1408, add to the ominous tone the readers of his books seemed to crave, and that wasnt all. Mike survives after setting himself on fire, turning him into a shellshocked paranoiac. But the s dont really contribute to the events inside the room, so other rooms arent affected. Theyre stuck there together until one of them or the both of them commit. The paranormal the real 1408 story the hotel del coronado.
The film is based on the short story 1408 by famed horror novelist stephen king, which first appeared in kings 1999 audio book blood and smoke. By the end of his stay in the room john cusack had a bit of an ace. Mikes first five minutes in the room is rather boring. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. Hes spent the last five years inside of room, which is, well, a room. Join our community of taste explorers to save your discoveries, create inspiring lists, get personalized recommendations, and follow interesting people. As he collapses, on fire, outside the room, another hotel guest, who is getting ice from the ice machine, sees him and is able to put out the flames. How does the movie make room 1408 seem scary before viewers even see the inside. It is directed by swedish director mikael hafstrom and stars john cusack, samuel l. And the worst part is the room wont let mike escape.
It is directed by mikael hafstrom and stars john cusack, samuel l. After a string of tedious haunted hotel visits and a mildly successful book about the same subject, enslin receives a provocative postcard from the dolphin hotel, a swanky joint in new york with an infamously creepy reputation. Nov 22, 2018 mike utilizes an old civil rights law to bypass the resorts guidelines and manages to get inside room 1408. The core position of the movie is that man has become arrogant and over confident.
The original discarded ending had mike dying from his fire injuries, but happy to see the room destroyed. Enslin spends 70 minutes in room 1408, dictating his. Jackson not to enter room 1408, mike defiantly procures the key and prepares to dispel yet another spectral sham. Mike enslin is the primary character in the stephen king short story 1408, which appeared in the blood and smoke audio book. A horror films powerful and discontinued ending medium. This is the twodisc collectors edition and not the single disc version. Produced by dimension films, it was released theatrically on june 22nd, 2007. The reason why they decided to change it to 1408 was because of the two casualties they had when making the movie. What was actually wrong with room 1408 in the movie. Research for a new book leads enslin to the supposedly haunted room 1408 at new york citys highend dolphin hotel. Aug 30, 2011 the cast and crew of the film 1408 discuss the special effects that went into creating the infamous room. In 2002, it was reprinted in written form as the twelfth story in the compilation everythings eventual. Recommendations everything music movies tv shows books authors games podcasts all music movies tv shows books authors games podcasts if you like. The cast and crew of the film 1408 discuss the special effects that went into creating the infamous room.
Alternative original ending director mikael hafstrom has stated that the ending for 1408 was reshot because test audiences felt that the original ending was too much of a downer. This ending is the default ending on the bluray release and twodisc collectors edition. Mike enslin john cusack is an author who specializes in horror, but who only believes in what he can see with his eyes and touch with his hands. A writer renowned for debunking infamous paranormal events is confronted by a force that he cannot explain upon checking into room 1408 of the notoriously haunted dolphin hotel. Mike enslin hadnt been sure until now, in spite of all the backing and filling. Ending spoiler for 1408 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The other guest looks inside the room and something about it is tempting him to enter, but enslin warns him not to. Apr 06, 2019 the only wrong thing about room 1408 in the movie 1408 is your mind. Old nick doesnt exactly provide ma with quality dental care while shes his prisoner inside room. The choice is yours either you be victim or fight and make the opponent victim. Mike arrives to check into room 1408 and the hotel manager, mr. However, i havent read the short story this is based on, so i dont know how adapted it was for the movie. Finally, the directors cut has mike also setting the room on fire and also dying, but this time, its olin who listens to the tape with the dead daughters voice.
Enslin, bestselling author of true ghost stories, decides to spend the night in new york citys most haunted hotel room. Joe queenan checks into room 1408, based on a stephen king short story, and finds room for improvement. The problem with haunted hotel chillers is that hotels arent very scary. The horror begins before enslin even steps into the room. This scene exhibits how mike trying to escape from the room 1408. In 2007, dimension films adapted the story into the film 1408 where the role of mike enslin was played by actor john cusack. At first enslin is unfazed by 1408s morbid history. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and smoke, released in 1999. Its in the backyard of a kidnappers house, and its where the kidnappers has held a girl for seven years. Jackson i just watched it again the other night and ive always enjoyed it. The movie was directed by mikael hafstrom from a screenplay written by matt greenberg, scott alexander, and larry karaszewski.
They simply try to play with your mind and inner mindpsychology. I took the ending to mean that he never escaped the room. John cusack is a very underated actor who is very good portraying a depressed man who is greiving over his daughters death. Joe queenan on why haunted hotel movie 1408 isnt very.
Slasher films can shock by pushing the boundaries of blood and gore, but the gimmick is short lived and one usually forgets them five minutes after leaving the theater. Mike is a jaded writer still mourning the loss of his young daughter. Director mikael hafstrom said that the ending for 1408 was reshot because test audiences felt that the original ending was too much of a downer. The only getaway options are to either kill himself or endure psychological as well as physical torture that will last for eternity. In 2002, 1408 was collected in written form as the 12th story in kings collection everythings eventual. Mike enslin, bestselling author of true ghost stories, decides to spend the night in new york citys most haunted hotel room. Behind every good story lies, at the very least, a small amount of truth. It isnt lengthy before points start to get very surreal and also very crazy. He pursues places that are haunted and then writes about them. How does mikes past become part of the room s arsenal of disturbing imagery. Firefighters manage to extricate him, however, and he recovers in the hospital, reunited with his estranged wife mccormack. 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. Families can talk about the enduring appeal of ghost stories and haunted house tales.
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. Jackson, mary mccormack, tony shalhoub, len cariou, isiah whitlock, jr. I just watched it again the other night and ive always enjoyed it. Mike enslin takes this as a challenge and tries to get access to room 1408 but finds that the hotel manager has forbidden anyone from entering the room because of all the people who have died in that room 56 in all.
This first alternative ending was used in the theatrical release. Finally, the 1408 script is here for all you fans of the stephen king movie featuring john cusack and sam jackson. Hafstrom conjures a wonderful anticipatory mood of dread in. Several guests have met untimely demises during their stay in room 1408, due to natural and decidedly unnatural. The only wrong thing about room 1408 in the movie 1408 is your mind. Mike does not believe in the supernatural but deep inside him, he longs to somehow connect to his departed daughter. His short story 1408 first appeared in audio book form some time ago and then finally. At one point during 1408, mike enslin appears to have escaped the room, with the experience being written off as a possible vivid nightmare. Oct 15, 2017 1408 may seem like a cliched, shallow, hollywoodized attempt at horror that owes its whole existence to a short story by stephen king and the films of the genre that preceded it. Considering the larger king canon, theres a good chance that its a thinny. Of course, the film is a bit longer, so the main character spends a lot more time in room 1408 than he does in the book, but even the new experiences he encounters in the room are well done, and blend in seamlessly with events from the book.
Jackson, who provides enslin a book documenting the 56 deaths that occurred in room 1408 over the previous 95 years, enslin stubbornly and incredulously. Since his only daughter died, cusack has been touring haunted hotels and writing books that ultimately debunk any reports of supernatural occurrences. He believes that 1408 is just a myth perpetuated by stories and rumors that enslin has collected for his past works. The manager of the building didnt exactly know why this happened, it was a complete mystery, so he forbid and kept 1408 locked. Enslin reconciles with his estranged wife, writes a book about his perceived experiences in room 1408, and months of his life seem to pass by. He gets a postcard about a haunted hotel room in new york, room 1408, and decides to check in. In the short story 1408, what exactly was the room. Mike enslin john cusack survives the hour within the room, but realizes the evil force within the. As thrillers go, 1408 leaves too much room for fun.
A first alternate ending has mike still setting the room on fire as well, but dying alongside it, then sam reading the manuscript of the book 1408 he wrote before the movie ends. As hes pacing the halls of the 14th floor, he finds himself back at an empty open elevator, as if the hotel is telling enslin not to go into the room. If this is what happens when stephen king retires to write screenplays, im all for it. What was the most unexpected movie ending youve seen.
In the end he is left with only two options, stay in room 1408 and be tortured for eternity, or take the easy way out and kill himself. But he must live to write about it without the help of his ex bestfriends, his trusty smokes. Mikael hafstroms stylish horror movie based on a stephen king story is a frightening and disturbing film, and the effects take a while to wear off. Based on a stephen king short story, starring john cusack and samuel l. Towards the end 1408 unravels a bit as the filmmakers seemed unsure how to end it all they were see below, but the movie is perfect latenight viewing alone on dvd one night. But enslins phantomfree run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious dolphin hotel for his latest project. He is trapped inside that room and there is no connection to the outside world. After the sopranos series finale, no ending can seem too abrupt, and yet this one is a shrug. So that while the movie 1408 follows horror writer mike enslins discovery of, and subsequent terrifying stay, within the dolphin hotels room 1408. I took the ending to mean that he never escaped the room, and neither did his wife, since the room lured her there. Olin was really afraid of room 1408, and of what might happen to mike there tonight.
He meets his paranormal match when a postcard beckons him to the dolphin hotel, an oldfashioned new york highrise with a room 1408 thats claimed so many victims that its no longer rented out. For some reason it was decided to present the directors earlier cut of the movie. A man who specialises in debunking paranormal occurrences checks. Although skeptical of the paranormal, he is soon trapped in the room where he. 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. While the movie, and the stephen king short story from which it was adapted are works of fiction, both. Mike finishes his book about the hauntings in 1408 and we find out the hotel is currently. Mike enslin is a skeptic and author who debunks supernatural occurrences after the untimely death of his daughter katie. Olin who has purposely left room 1408 vacant for over 20 years, room 1408 has been responsible for at least 42 deaths, 12 of them suicides and at least 30 natural deaths, all over a span of 68 years. 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. Mike enslins stay in room 1408 becomes completely meaningless at the end. When enslin mentions that the room is haunted, the door to 1408 slams shut. Enslin sets his old lucky hawaiian shirt on fire, while still wearing it, which breaks the spell of the room long enough for him to escape. Consider that the room made him live through extremely vividelaborate hallucinations he actually lived in there for a while, wrote a book and.
He has various problems stemming from his night in the room. After his latest book, he receives an anonymous postcard of the dolphin hotel. But i like that they left it at that, instead of ending it with the wife screaming inside room 1408 or something. Als teil seiner recherchen fur ein weiteres buch will er im zimmer 1408 des dolphin hotels in new york city ubernachten, in dem bereits 56 hotelgaste zu. I have a hard time settling on what the ending means. Arriving at the dolphin hotel on 61st street in new york city. So the ending, even the part in the hospital when enslin wakes up and asks if theyre in california, might already be the room s illusion for the wife, messing with her. Its streaming on netflixsweden the idea of an evil fucking room as samuel. 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. A man who specialises in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the dolphin hotel. Do you think strong emotions can continue to occupy a place. As thrillers go, 1408 leaves too much room for fun the. The philosophical depths that horror can reach youtube. After a cleaning lady was momentarily locked up inside room 1408, she was rendered blind and could only see the most awful colors that she had no name for.