Realistically, I’d hope that if someone died in a bloodbath on a hotel bed, they would at least have the courtesy to toss the comforter.

John Cusack and Samuel Jackson star in the Mikael Hafstrom film “1408.” Originally a short story by Stephen King found in the collection “Everything’s Eventual,” the film got lost amidst the torrent of the summer movie season. Thankfully, it is now out on DVD for about five dollars for your own home enjoyment.

If you haven’t read the short story, there’s no need to worry about it. Even though the movie shares the same plot, it often strays from the path King laid down. If you have read the book, just don’t think about the story when you watch the movie. If you do, it may make the experience feel a bit strained. That being said the movie was entertaining.

The character played by Cusack is Mike Enslin, a washed-up author who makes a buck by writing cheap ghost story novels found on bargain priced shelves at bookstores.

His daughter died very young, leaving his family in ruins. He leaves his wife in search of some sort of paranormal activity as a way of coping with his loss. He soon becomes disheartened when he realizes that the things he writes about simply do not exist.

Of course, he’s mistaken. Enter 1408, a room in the Dolphin Hotel that manager Gerald Olin, played by Jackson, pleads him not to check in to. The room lays claim to 56 deaths, and gets turned only once a month (with the door always open, of course).

Supposedly no one last more than an hour in the room. In a failed attempt to last 60 minutes, Enslin enters the room and the claustrophobic, sick mind games begin.

The movie has two very credible actors, despite the fact that Jackson is in about 14 minutes of the movie. However, quality over quantity applies here, with Sam J. giving a chilling performance, stating, “I just don’t want to clean up the mess.”

Cusack can’t help but give up a few funny lines during his stay in the room, which breaks some of the suspense of a movie. Despite what “Shaun of the Dead” may have told us, humor isn’t always a good thing when you want to stay scared.

The hallways of the hotel give a nice Kubrick-like feel, and the scene where John Cusack takes a black light over the room is enjoyably disgusting. He shines it over all the places where the bodies were found, including the bed comforter. Realistically, I’d hope that if someone died in a bloodbath on a hotel bed, they would at least have the courtesy to toss the comforter.

It’s doubtful that any hotels will be using “1408” as a promotional film any time soon. Also if you are afraid of heights, there is a great scene just for you.

On the DVD in the special features menu, there are two alternate endings. Check out ending number two, which is better than the one the original cut of the movie went with.

I was genuinely freaked out during a decent sized chunk of the film so I would say it is definitely worth a rental.

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