DVD Pick of the Week: 1408

Welcome back, once again. I am your humble post and DVD picker extrordinaire. Rather, I like to look through the weekly lists of upcoming releases and find a few select titles that offer something of interest and pass along my bits and pieces on to you. Anyway, this week's list offers up much of interest, but nothing that really screams out as a must buy. Still, there is one title that climbed its way to the top, and now that October is here it is even more appropriate as a selection. Anyway, read on for the pick and a few other select titles.

This week's top pick is a recent film, so recent that it can actually still be seen on the big screen. It is a Stephen King adaptation, that's right a Stephen King Adaptation that is actually good! 1408 arrived on screens back at the end of June and opened to good reviews. As it turned out, it was a rather effective thriller that delivered scares and a story that held together right through to the end.

A movie based on a Stephen King story is always a questionable affair. More often than not, the movie is an underwhelming experience (Dreamcatcher, Lawnmower Man, Sleepwalkers). He has his good adaptations as well (The Shining, Carrie, Misery). So, it was definitely going to be a toss up how this was going to turn. It does have a good cast in its favor with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Early word was good, and the trailers were also good. Well, after sitting through the movie, I am pleased to report that it delivers the goods — it's smartly written, creepy in execution, eerie in closure.

The tale offers up a lot to be inferred, lots of clues dropped, mainly surrounding our central character. A lot is hinged on Mike's (John Cusack) not believing in God, his disbelief of true supernatural occurrences, and his emotional detachment. All of this stems from the death of his daughter, something that Mike has never been able to deal with on any level. Rather than deal with any real world issues surrounding his person, he throws himself into his work of writing about the cheap thrills of haunted locations, seeking to debunk them. The room in the Dolphin Hotel is intent on proving the reality behind the supernatural, as well as making Mike come to terms with his own demons.

John Cusack is excellent in the lead role, and he really has no choice — a lesser performance would sink the project. Cusack spends most of the running time by himself, trapped inside the haunted room. He brings dry humor, cynicism, remorse, disbelief, and more into the portrayal of a man slowly going out of his mind. It is powerful, captivating, and utterly convincing. Samuel L. Jackson does a fine job in a smaller role, having one great scene when he and Cusack have a little sparring session over staying in the evil room.

Directed by Mikael Hafstrom and shot by Benoit Delhomme, 1408 looks great. There is a confined sense of dread as we move into the room through a keyhole shot of a lock mechanism. The room moves through the levels of Dante's inferno with a very hot cycle, a frozen cycle, all blended with a series of jump scares that work, as well as visions and appearances of prior tenants and family members. It is all quite stylish.

1408 is being released in both a single disk and a two disk special edition. The single disk release contains a pair of featurettes: John Cusack on 1408, Inside Room 1408. The special edition includes: 5 Deleted Scenes, Commentary By Director Mikael Hafstrom and Writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, The Secrets of 1408 – A Behind-the-Scenes Look, John Cusack on 1408, Inside Room 1408.

Also out this week:

• The War. This is the latest documentary from Ken Burns, this time focusing on World War II. I missed it when it was on PBS, but I have heard good things about it, it is Ken Burns after all.
• The Jungle Book: 40th Anniversary Edition. Not one of my favorites, but still a fun Disney outing. It is being released in a newly remastered edition with a host of extras.
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Considerably better than the first outing, this one was actually fun! Although, Jessica Alba still isn't right for the part. This is available in single disk and two disk special edition.
• Metalocalypse: Season One. A faux death metal band is at the heart of this Adult Swim cartoon. They have even released an album!
• Jericho: The First Season. This was very nearly a complete series. A large outpouring of support from fans have saved it, at least temporarily. It will be back mid-season for a seven episode run. This season itself is actually good, and gets better in the second half.
• Caligula: Three Disk Imperial Edition. What else need be said?
• The Sarah Silverman Program: Season One. Who doesn't love some Silverman? I haven't seen the show yet, but I am sure I will enjoy it. This contains all six first season episodes.
• Bram Stoker's Dracula: Collector's Edition. Finally, a special edition of this very good Francis Ford Coppola film. This was the first R rated film I saw theatrically.
• Shark: Season One. This James Woods starring series just began its second season. It is a fun show that centers on Woods fiery persona.
• Species: The Awakening. Can you believe this is the fourth of the series? The first wasn't all that good....
• Funny Face: 50th Anniversary Edition. The Audrey Hepburn film that was immortalized in the Gap commercial, where it was paired with AC/DC.
• Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane. How can you go wrong with a title like that? Seriously, this has got to be great.
• Misery: Collector's Edition. In addition to 1408, here comes another strong King adaptation. It has been out before, but here is an edition with some extras!
• Prom Night. Jamie Lee Curtis in an old school slasher.
• The Most Dangerous Game. Fay Wray in a film about a hunter bored of hunting animals who turns his sights on people.
• Evil Aliens. Love the title.
• Pumpkin Head 4: Blood Feud. See above for Species: The Awakening.

So, what is in your queue?