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1408

(2007, Rated PG-13, Horror, Starring John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Hotel room horror is more mental than physical.

updated 10.15.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Cynical writer learns to cope with grief and guilt through supernatural experiences; much of the movie takes place in a room described as "evil."
  • Violence :

    A surfer is hit by a wave and sinks underwater, then appears unconscious on shore; some brutal violence is indicated in newspaper and file photos (bodies are bloody, dead by suicides -- including drowning, throat slicing, gun shots, and hanging). A couple of ghosts jump out of the hotel room window (woman screams as she falls); hand smashed by window bleeds (bloody smears on walls, in sink, on shower curtain); man almost falls off building ledge; room "assaults" Mike, first overheating, then freezing, then collapsing, crashing, bleeding, and burning.
  • Sex :

    Dead bodies in a tub appear very briefly undressed (not explicit); bikinis and swimwear on beach.
  • Language:

    Moderate language, used in frustration and fear. One "f--k," plus repeated uses of "s--t," "ass," "damn," "hell," and a few of "bastard," "a--hole," and "bitch."
  • Consumerism:

    Dell laptop, Yahoo email.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mike drinks frequently (cognac, hotel liquor bottles); Mike thinks he's been "dosed." Mike's mirror image smokes; a former smoker, he ritually keeps a cigarette near him so he might use it if necessary -- by film's end, he does.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About 1408

Parents need to know that this horror film is more about psychology than gore, though the main character, Mike, does sustain some bloody injuries from the various attacks on him (flying furniture, collapsing architecture, and more). He also suffers increasing emotional distress and irrationality, remembering both his young daughter, who died of a disease (scenes show the wasting girl and arguments between her parents), and his resentful, despairing, wheelchair-bound father. The nightmare-style narrative is illogical and sometimes disturbing, including ghosts, loud noises, jump scenes, and grotesque images of insects and bloody corpses. Mike drinks frequently and smokes once (very dramatically). Language includes one use of "f--k" and plenty of other words: "s--t," "ass," "bitch," etc.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the enduring appeal of ghost stories and haunted house tales. Why are they so popular? Do you think strong emotions can continue to "occupy" a place? How does the movie make room 1408 seem scary before viewers even see the inside? How does Mike's past become part of the room's arsenal of disturbing imagery? Families can also discuss why people like being scared at the movies. What makes some horror movies better at accomplishing this than others?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Graphic Stephen King ghost story for teens and up.

    Parents should know that while this film is entertaining and exciting, it has very graphic violence including implied and partially shown suicides and gruesome injuries. Kids may be upset about the fact that the main character has separated from his wife and lost his daughter due to illness. There is some strong language and themes of smoking and drinking.

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    This movie is one of the best movies that I have seen. I like the original ending better because the main character didn't die.

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    nice ghost story

    i enjoyed it

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0

    Pretty twisted/spooky thrillride was awesome!

    Stephen King is a genius and also the most demented person on the planet to write such a breathtaking and heartpounding story. The movie's content: SEX: Mike flips on the TV and sees the pay-per-view order screen for a series of porn films. A painting shows a woman baring her breast to feed what appears to be a dead child on her lap. LANGUAGE: The f-word knocks once, while the s-word pounds 10 times. Other profanities include four or five uses each of "a--," "h---" and "d--n." "B--ch" and "b--tard" also show up. Jesus and God are both blasphemed, with God's name being mixed four times with the word "d--n." VIOLENCE: We catch quick glimpses of photographs of several blood-splattered dead bodies, along with a close-up of what appears to be someone's throat wound and a woman drowned in the bathtub.Several ghostly specters of previous suicide victims in the room jump out of its window. Mike's hand is smashed in the same window and then scalded by steam. He wraps the bleeding mitt in a cloth, but blood soaks through, streaking walls and furniture. Mike sees a vision of his daughter walking over broken plaster with bleeding feet. Later, he hugs her close to himself, and she dies in his arms and crumbles to ash. Mike is attacked by several ghoulish creatures (he kicks one, and its skull-like head crumbles). While the violence doesn't seem bad, the entire movie is so tense, it spooked even me a little - 'course, that could be because I stay in hotels a lot. I recommend an edited version, such as ClearPlay DVD player (clearplay.com) Watch this movie!

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Great horror movie...

    This is a fantastic movie! It's got a lot of suspense, and creepy stuff. But (unless discussion of suicides and a guy who gets his hand stuck in a window count) there's almost no true violence in the movie. Its entire focus is on the character's psychology. John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson do a great job with their roles, and manage to be cute and likeable. This is also probably the best example of horror drama I can name, though the movie is more of a drama than the Stephen King short story it's based on.

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