Stephen King has been a favorite author of mine since teenage. His novels are not exactly award-winning profound stuff but they almost all have been above-average entertainments. They scare you, make you
laugh and occasionally even make you cry.
The films however have been another thing. It’s not that there is a big difference between the numbers of hits and misses of his film adaptations. But the one that are bad REALLY SUCK!
If you want proof just try renting out one of the following: ‘The Mangler’, ‘Langoliers’, ‘Rose Red’ (Gawd! I am still suffering from that one) and least but not the last his own
disastrous directorial debut, ‘Maximum Overdrive’.
One can actually count on one hand the number of watch able adaptations of King’s novels (and there have
been many) and short stories and remember the rest with regret. There is
something about his novels that make you thing "Hey that would make a
nifty movie!"
They just leap off the page and seem very cinematic. But whenever people have actually got on with it, they have realised how uphill
the task is.
But on brighter side (there is one, you skeptics) for every
one of those mentioned above there has been a “Misery” or a “The Shining” or
even TV movies like “Salem’s Lot”.
Even though he is widely recognized as a horror writer his non horror work
seems to have done better. “Stand By Me”, “The Green Mile” (borderline horror,
of you will), “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Dolores Claiborne” have been
critically appreciated and garnered Academy Award Nominations also. SO, to cut
a long story short every King release is something akin to watching a coin in
the air, not knowing which side it will fall.
I am glad to report that this King adaptation doesn’t just
not suck but it’s actually good.
A writer becomes obsessed with ‘the other world’ after the death
of his daughter. While researching for his latest book “Top 10 Haunted Places”
he comes across a postcard about Room no. 1408 at Dolphin Hotel. It’s notorious
reputation, as introduced by the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson in a strong
cameo) does nothing to detract him from spending one night in the room.
The rest of the film takes place in the room over one
hellish night.
Conjured from a rather sketchy but effective short story
featured in “Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales” the screenplay is quite good,
not resorting to fake frights, gushes of blood and gore to make its audience
squirm. Most of the scary stuff here is psychological. John Cusack (always
reliable) and good direction ensure that we feel as trapped and claustrophobic
as the protagonist.
Mikael Hafstrom’ direction is never intrusive and he
effectively notches up the suspense right till the end.
In the end, when someone draws up a list of successful
Stephen King book adaptations this one would be up there with the better ones.
Recommended.