1408 .FILMREVIEW

1408 .FILMREVIEW .2

Contains Spoilers

Some Rooms Are Locked For A Reason.

This film screams family movie night for me. 1408 is your generic 2000s horror film, that follows the same boring narrative, and try too hard in being a psychological horror. It featured some of the most exaggerated visuals and scoring, that to me, kind of defeat the whole purpose of psychological horror. I want to talk about how this film couldve been so much better, if it were to lean more in being surreal, because there are a few scenes that i really like from this film. 

When i mentioned how this film follows a boring narrative, i truly mean it. It follows John Cusack as this supposedly mythbuster as he met with a haunted room that's seemingly just another day of work, but turns out was a much bigger threat. A doubter finally found his match. Dont get me wrong, cinema has existed for more than a century, and a film can follow a narrative that have been used before. Not all film must be groundbreaking, if it can tell a story that you're probably familiar with but still amaze or entertain you, then i feel like the film has done great. But what made 1408 not great to me is the fact that they exaggerated pretty much everything, in order to scare you. Which an argument could be made, that it could appeal to the general audiences. 

The first thing that they exaggerated is the visuals. With psychological horror, i feel like you dont need something grand in order to scare the audiences, rather the opposite. This film featured a lot of cheap jumpscares that is predictable, and show the horror of the room through hologram ghosts, constantly changing the condition of the room, and the use of constant calling that came from the daughter which is very annoying. These elements would later contribute in John Cusack losing his mind, but the thing is they're very weak and cheap, that i really dont care for John Cusack's character. It feels like as if they're trying too hard in being a psychological horror film, by showcasing some of the most nothing burger elements i have ever seen.

The second thing they exaggerated, which is the most annoying part of the film, is the scoring. The scoring geniunely didnt match what this film trying to achieve, it feels like they're just trying to make whatever John Cusack is doing looked cool. The scoring is what really pushed me into not liking this film, because i feel like its one of the most important thing that could support the whole film. The better approach for both visuals and music, i think would be to lean more into being a surreal film. Because this film revolves in John Cusack's character losing his mind due to circumtances that happened in the hotel room, why not showcase some surreal visuals that is supposed to confused not just the characters in the film but also the audiences.

Because the thing is, this film did shown fractions of what im trying to say. One of the scene involved John Cusack and his character's father, in a cold nursing home room, which to me is the best part of the film. Because what made it brilliant, is that it's out of nowhere and doesnt match the surrounding enviroment. Not to mention, there's no jumpscare, yet the father delivered a line that strucked some horror to me. Another scene that has the same kind of value is, the door suddenly appearing behind John Cusack towards the end. 

With a film that revolves around one singular hotel room, i feel like they wouldve been benefited if they focused on more in making the main character felt isolated, but still feel as if they're not alone. Which to me is quite a brilliant horror, i love The House Of The Devil for the same reason. 

Although i did mentioned how this film is a psychological horror film, i feel like it's more of supernatural horror. Because they featured a lot of supernatural elements, like ghosts, dead relatives, and loops, which to me kind of takes away from being a full on psychological. Like i said, i think this film is the perfect embodiment of family movie night. Its light while i think still challenges the audience to use their critical thinking. 

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