1408 4K 2007

1408 is a magical, mesmerizing number. The non-existent 13th floor, room 1408 (which adds up to 13)... All of this is mesmerizing from the outset. Stephen King is a master of psychological horror, hidden and concealed within each person. When watching the film, everyone will find a phobia to their liking, so to speak (for example, I have claustrophobia, and the most frightening scene in the film for me was in the ventilation shaft). The best thing about this whole story is that it is truly scary. They don't try to scare us with disgustingly made-up mutants, severed rubber limbs, or rivers of blood; they scare us with OUR own fears.

The use of Hitchcockian techniques to build suspense pays off. The film stands out among the examples of “new wave” horror with its characteristic features (see above). With a fairly mild rating for a film of this kind, 1408 is scary, and very good at it! A couple of times during the film, you are sure to jump or experience a feeling of goosebumps running down your spine, which, you must agree, is a good indicator of the quality of horror in a film.

I would also like to point out that with a minimum of special effects and costs for the process itself, the film looks spectacular. The effect of horror and a certain uneasiness is achieved through fairly simple techniques. Ghosts created on a projector (an original and, I would say, ingeniously simple idea given today's advances in computer graphics), noises, and unexpected moments sometimes make you catch your breath, look at your neighbor, and smile nervously. And, of course, one cannot fail to mention John Cusack's performance, which is not just great, but magnificent. He is the perfect candidate and performer for the lead role, who was able to convey all the anxiety and madness in room 1408 so well that it chills you to the bone. You watch and think, “He's really going crazy!” or “My God, what's wrong with him?” In short, it makes you empathize with him.

Overall, the film is a success, which is rare for King adaptations, so I'm adding it to my golden collection and, of course...