1408

It's a different sort of movie and John Cusack is probably the main character and the only character in a lot of it. You do see Samuel but it's a horror movie and it's done extremely well. I recommend watching it

didn’t realize there’s an alternative ending i loved it!

Firstly, MINOR SPOILER ALERT AT END OF THIS REVIEW! Ok,I loved this movie, and am surprised that it didn't do better at the box office; I had never even heard of it until I saw it on Amazon. With Stephen King movies, you pay your money and you take a gamble (I remember all these years later, sitting in the theatre and watching CUJO, Hmm, somebody owed a pretty hefty downpayment on the newest house). But 1408 earns its' five star rating, and, having the double disc with both endings included, I have watched both versions a couple of times, and I intend to watch it again, soon. The plot is discussed in the many other reviews listed, and so I am going to pretty much stick to my personal view of the acting, for the most part - obviously, the writing, direction and production can be flawless, but if the acting isn't up to par, it's a complete waste of time, effort and money. John Cusack really surprised me with his portrayal of a burned out, grieving writer, Mike Enslin, who churns out books about hauntings/ghosts/the paranormal not because he has any belief in them (he specializes in debunking such things, but there is an underlying and unspoken suggestion that he may have at one time believed, or hoped to find proof that he could believe), but because it pays the bills. After he receives a mysterious postcard telling him to check out Room 1408 of The Dolphin Hotel in NYC, Mike demands to be allowed to stay in 1408, despite the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson) telling him that the room is not available. This is where the movie pretty much turns into a one man showcase for John Cusack, who gets his way, gets into the room, and then can't get out. Watching John change the character of Enslin from a bored, cold-as-ice-what-do-I-do-today-to-keep-from-driving-off-a-bridge individual whose only child has died to a man who realizes that the bizarre events going on inside that room simply have no explanation (trickery, him being drugged and delusional, etc.) is fascinating, and again, I can't figure out why this movie, and John's acting, didn't make more of a critical splash. Whether he's taken aback at the sudden appearance of pillow mints on the bed or watching a ghostly and long ago suicide victim cross the room and climb onto the open window's ledge, Cusack shows just the right amount of shock, then cracks in the shell, then near hysteria and back to the sudden, sickening recognition that he might not being getting out of there alive. The other actors and actresses in the film are pretty much relegated to glorified extras, all there to advance the plotline, but that acting as well is good, and Samuel L. Jackson, as the manager Gerald Olin, could have delivered his few scenes in too heavy a hand, and it would have come off more camp than frightening...instead, he hits the mark perfectly, and the viewer realizes that Olin is just as afraid of 1408 as he tells everybody else to be. I really, really enjoyed this film, although I strongly disliked the version with the alternate ending: whether it is because you end up liking Mike Enslin, and pulling for him to make it out and not only write a great book but see Life through renewed eyes (there's a few seconds' scene at the beginning of the movie where, when sorting through the mail that holds the 1408 postcard in the first place, Enslin receives a birthday card - Cusack does a wonderful little weary, "So what?" glance at the card and flips it away, saying more right there about what this character feels since his child died than had he spoken three pages of dialogue), I just didn't really want the film to end (SPOILER!) with the hotel room winning. If you want to see Mike not go down as yet another victim to that 'evil f@#!@#@ room', as Gerald Olin puts it, watch the version that was widely circulated. If you want to see how Room 1408 adds another notch to its doorpost, the director's cut is for you. And if you want to be just a little more cautious when traveling from now on, when you check into your next motel/hotel room, do some quick arithmitic of the room number. If it adds up to '13', well....

Good

It's a horror film. I feel like that's not super obvious from the title and poster.

This movie always keeps you guessing. As soon as you think you can guess what will happen, there’s a totally different outcome

Hey there, Blu-ray fans! Ok, the Blu-ray of 1408 doesn't have many reviews so I'll come on and inform you of the product as I have this baby in my collection.First off... the controversy. This disc has the director's cut ending as part of the film and no you can't change it to the theatrical cut. The theatrical ending is included as an additional scene but you can't incorporate it into the movie itself. There is also a third ending that you can view as an additional scene too.So to make it absolutely clear, if you are buying this Blu-ray you are buying the director's cut of the film, which equates to just a little extension of a couple of scenes, nothing major there but the big qualm is the director's cut ending which is completely different from what you watched in the movie theater, ( if you indeed saw it in the theater that is ).I did see the film in the theater and I will describe the different endings in detail so turn away if you haven't seen the film and jump forward a few paragraphs to where I have written "end of spoilers".SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS!The original theatrical ending had John Cusack's character surviving the hotel fire and reuniting with his wife. He still can't comprehend his experience but he is moving on. One day while looking through his old possessions he finds his tape recorder that he had with him in the hotel room, listens to it and hears the voice of the spirit of his dead daughter. This confirms that there is more beyond death and this supposedly gives the Cusack character some piece of mind.This ending is restrained, not a typical happy ending, even though the main character lives. I enjoyed it very much as I saw it in the movie theater and was shocked to discover when I rented the original DVD, that the director's cut contained a totally new ending. And here is that ending...Cusack dies in the hotel fire, there is a funeral, his wife, now a widow is there, so is his editor played by Tony Shalhoub. Sam Jackson stops by to deliver some of Cusack's belongings to the widow. She does not want them so Jackson goes to his car, plays the burned tape recorder and hears the ghostly voice of Cusack's daughter. Alarmed by this, Jackson gets the scare of his life as he sees the burnt up zombie corpse of Cusack in the rear-view mirror staring at him! A cheap and ridiculous scare typical of horror flicks! Then Jackson turns around to find no one there. The locale changes and we are back to the burnt down, closed hotel where Cusack died. We see his ghost near the window looking out, he hears the call of his dead daughter's voice and goes out of our view. Ostensibly he is now a ghost forever trapped with his daughter's ghost or a representation of it in the burnt down hotel. Whatever.This ending was cheap and lame but the director probably thought killing the main character would be more edgy! Nonsense. The theatrical cut was just fine, far more refined and subtle.The third ending involves the editor played by Tony Shalhoub. His role in the film was a glorified cameo so this extra scene is ok to watch once. He receives the new manuscript from the dead Cusack character. Reading it he is freaked out by how bizarre it is. End of film.END OF SPOILERSClearly the original theatrical conclusion is the best of the three possibilities but the director or the studio or both have arrogantly conspired to shove this down people's throats or perhaps use it as an excuse to double dip this Blu-ray in the future. This is still a highly watchable, entertaining film and this blemish doesn't spoil what is actually one of the best Stephen King adaptations in many years. The first two-thirds of the film are especially riveting, the build-up to entering the hotel room, the long narrative arc of staying in this hellish environment... Cusack is terrific here, playing for almost an hour practically by himself. Outstanding build up of tension. The film loses momentum and goes off the rails in the last third and then we get this annoying director's cut ending. The point of the whole film is that this angry, lonely man just wants a tiny confirmation of the supernatural so that he can have piece of mind over his daughter's death. If he can find evidence of a supernatural realm, there may indeed be a God and a point and purpose to life after all and that his daughter's death was not in vain. Of course he gets more than he bargained for! The original theatrical ending really worked in the context of the themes I have summarized. The director's cut version is more nihilistic and ridiculous. Overall still worth it if you're not attached to the theatrical ending and since I bought this Blu-ray I guess I'm not.The picture quality is mostly very good with high contrast in the daylight scenes which look appropriately gorgeous here on Blu-ray. The more dimly lit interiors are also a joy to behold and the great cinematography gives this Blu-ray a lot to work with. A famous Blu-ray reviewing website reported that this transfer has pumped, oversaturated colors. I only found that in a few instances with some of the textures having a plasticky appearance but overall I had no major disappointments with this transfer.The audio has a True HD 5.1 track which is great as well a standard 5.1 Dolby track that is also very fine.The extras contain a very informative audio commentary by the director and the co-screenwriters. Then there are the typical featurettes, some promotional fluff, deleted scenes and the aforementioned alternate endings. All in all, this Blu-ray is a solid purchase if you are not too attached to the theatrical ending. And if you've never seen this film, then you may not care at all and enjoy the director's preferred conclusion! So then, that's it. Adios for now, Blu-ray aficionados!

Watched it three times really loved the story line, part's were scary 😯

I love movies that are psychological thrillers. This movie has twists leaving you wondering which parts are real. Masterful performance by John Cusack.

Excelente servicio.La película llegó en buen estado.

I purchased this when it was new.Unfortunatly someone kept it?Mike ( John Cusack) has spent his life debunking the Paranormal.After hearing of a troubled room 1408.Decides to investigate.Samuel L Jackson along for the ride.Spooky thriller, that feeds on your imagination.Opening menu slightly fiddly as I dont read Italian.I managed to figure it out.Picture excellent for it's age.Soundtrack Dolby+ Neural XGlad to have this back in my film Collection.Moral of the Tale?Make notes when lending films out....

Ich liebe Stephen King Filme. Der Film ist super spannend und regt zum nachdenken an, der Film ist einfach nur genial und zwei super Schauspieler.

FIlm con ottimo cast.. e poi è del libro di Stepehn King