1408’s opening hour is a masterpiece. Tense, sinister, but restrained, the film’s initial setup, including Cusack’s first few minutes in the eerie hotel room, is executed with such perfection that it’s virtually impossible for anything that follows to be nearly as effective (the film’s excessively revealing trailer certainly doesn’t help this matter). Director Mikael Håfström (Derailed) manages to keep things interesting throughout, but there’s little doubt that the film’s strength lies primarily in its first half, as the second act is bogged down by excessive CGI effects and elaborate sequences that betray the claustrophobic and minimalist tone established early on. Despite these shortcomings, high praise must be given to Cusack. The film’s effectiveness rests largely on his shoulders since his character spends the majority of the picture alone in the hotel room. Fortunately, Cusack delivers a commanding and layered performance in a role that could have easily come off as self-indulgent and laughable (see Jim Carrey in The Number 23).

1408 may not live up to its incredible opening hour, but it is certainly a welcome and refreshing break from all the sequels currently dominating multiplexes. Featuring terrific performances from Cusack and Jackson, the film is a suspenseful and creepy throwback to more traditional ghost-story films and there is certainly enough good stuff here to warrant a high recommendation.