1408

In the tense, psychologically complex horror film "1408," directed by Mikael Håfström and written by Matt Greenberg, based on the short story of the same name by Stephen King, we are introduced to Mike Enslin, a renowned author of paranormal-investigation books. Mike's numerous books have debunked countless claims of ghost sightings, spirit possessions, and other unexplained phenomena, making a name for himself as one of the world's top skeptics. He is known as Mr. Skeptic, a moniker that strikes fear into the hearts of these paranormal enthusiasts. Desperate for his next big story, Mike takes it upon himself to investigate the infamous Dolphin Hotel, a once-grand establishment that has been haunted for decades by tales of ghosts, apparitions, and inexplicable occurrences. According to legend, room 1408 has claimed the lives of its occupants due to unknown forces, leaving nobody brave enough to stay overnight. Seeking to challenge these superstitions and prove that they are nothing more than foolish myths, Mike refuses to believe the stories and decides to investigate the room for himself. Upon arrival at the Dolphin Hotel, Mike meets Porter, a seasoned hotel manager (played by Sam Elliott) who warns him of the horrors that have taken place in room 1408. Encouraged, not deterred, Mike checks into the room with a healthy dose of skepticism, his assistant, Gerry (played by Jonathan Togo), waiting anxiously outside for Mike to see the horrors unfold. Porter returns with a bottle of whiskey to accompany Mike's stay, pleading with him to leave, citing the unsettling fates of previous residents. Determined and intrepid, Mike ignores Porter's warnings, securing his cell phone and camera to record any supernatural evidences, as he settles into the room. Initially, Mike roams around the room meticulously documenting, writing in his journal, and snapping photos, setting the ground work for discrediting any paranormal claims once he's proven the logical explanations behind the unsettling events unfolding. Nevertheless, each time Mike believes he's overcome the unsettling atmosphere, he discovers another chilling scene that defies all reason. Mike repeatedly tries to write and tell himself that the inexplicable happenings are merely effects of paranoia while convincing himself to be objective. With his mental state deteriorating and lines between reality and paranoia blurring, the room starts disturbing his sense of normalcy more and more. Mike at no point can't fight the creeping sense that something in the room watches him. Mike brings the last whiskey, down while continuing to write and documenting all from room 1408 as the events are intensifying. With events reaching their boiling point, Mike experiences both visions of death and scenes reflecting the previous, as yet deceased occupants in the room. Eventually, under immense pressure, he reaches out to his estranged son who loves drawing pictures and in a moment of desperation, phones his loving wife's home in New York City, his son answers. Extremely panicked and mentally unwell, Mike desperately tells the child stories and draws increasingly more disturbing portraits with his son trying his best just to make sense of his fears inside room 1408. Mike's last phone call prior to seeing the many spirits brings closure, explaining that he is sorry to 'have been a hard man, 'a very hard man,' not believing all the time. Immediately following the intense despair felt by the news of his demise, he glances into the room, recognizing the true heart-wrenching, inevitable truth: he has come to the realization that the supernatural powers connected with room 1408 have possessed him. After glancing around at this moment of a lifetime, at no point can Mike fight one final time, but this time, the forces are much the greater and room 1408 once more haunts its very last guest who tried everything simply to endure staying.