1408

Mike Enslin makes his living debunking haunted claims, traveling from one supposedly cursed site to the next. When he arrives at the Dolphin Hotel to spend the infamous room 1408, he expects a routine night of skepticism and notes for his book. He refuses to leave even when the first signs of something off appear, insisting that his professional stance will protect him. Yet as the clock ticks and the room's twisted tricks mount an attack, his confidence begins to crack. What starts as a dare becomes a fight for control, sanity, and survival, as the line between illusion and nightmare grows dangerously thin. Rumors about the Dolphin's haunted past fuel his skepticism and set the trap for what follows.

Mikael Håfström directs this tense adaptation based on Stephen King's short story 1408, with a screenplay by Larry Karaszewski, Matt Greenberg, and Scott Alexander. John Cusack leads as the skeptical author, supported by a sharp turn by Samuel L Jackson.

Budget was 25 million and the film grossed about 133 million worldwide, signaling strong audience appeal for horror that blends psychological thrills with supernatural menace. It held well overseas and became a reliable earner for its studio in many markets.

1408 earned a place in the late 2000s haunted room subgenre, delivering a single location thriller that still feels claustrophobic. Cusack's restrained performance and the relentless room design left audiences talking about how fear can simmer in a closed space, influencing later one room setups and screenwriting choices, inspiring imitators.

Critics generally praised the film for maintaining tension through atmosphere and character conflict, while some noted its predictable twists. The story centers on belief versus skepticism isolation and the corrosive effect of guilt on a man who tests truth against terror and how fear can reveal a person's true nature.