I wonder if mike enslin played by john cusack knows about creeper weed. Viewing this as a challenge, mike arrives at the dolphin and requests room 1408. Mike enslin hadnt been sure until now, in spite of all the backing and filling. He appears in the short story 1408 and its film adaptation, where he is portrayed by john cusack. After his latest book, he receives an anonymous postcard depicting the dolphin, a hotel on lexington avenue in new york city bearing the message, dont enter 1408. Mike enslin john cusack is a cynic, who is a nonbeliever in ghost tales and is a hack writer renown for having a blast debunking paranormal events in hotels and writing a series of books on tour guides of haunted places based on his experiences. In case he doesnt know much about such things, ill explain it to him. H eres the creepy true story behind horror movie 1408. His young daughters death has left mike skeptical about the supernatural, even gods existence.
Mar 10, 2020 heres the creepy true story behind horror movie 1408. It isnt lengthy before points start to get very surreal and also very crazy. A man who specialises in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408. Renowned horror novelist mike enslin only believes what he can see with his own two eyes. Mike enslin writes nonfiction works based on the theme of.
Mike enslin writes nonfiction works based on the theme of haunted places. This book is handed to mike enslin john cusack during an autograph session, and he then signs it. Mike enslin sets fire to 1408 but is not rescued by the fire department. At one point during 1408, mike enslin appears to have escaped the room, with the experience being written off as a possible vivid nightmare. Author mike enslin specializes in paranormal investigations writing books along the line of the 10 best haunted hotels in america and so on. A novel writer named mike enslin visits the dolphin hotel in search of the cursed room 1408, where over 50 people have already died. Jackson gave him, he comes across a page that says, my brother was eaten by wolves on the connecticut turnpike. He believes that hes already dealt with the supreme horror that life has to offer the death of his only child. A first alternate ending has mike still setting the room on fire as well, but dying alongside it, then sam reading the manuscript of the book 1408 he wrote before the movie ends. Enslin reconciles with his estranged wife, writes a book about his perceived experiences in room 1408, and months of his life seem to pass by. Mike enslin is a writer who is known for writing books on the paranormal.
Enslin s phantomfree run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408. After a string of bestsellers discrediting paranormal events in the most infamous haunted houses and graveyards around the world, he scoffs at the concept of an afterlife. In the introduction to the story, king says that 1408 is his version of what he calls the ghostly room at the inn, his term for the theme of haunted hotel or. Mike enslin, a writer of books about time spent at supposedly haunted locations, is insistent, however, on staying in room 1408. Mike enslin takes this as a challenge and tries to get access to room 1408 but finds that the hotel manager has forbidden anyone from entering the room because of all the people who have died in that room 56 in all. First of all, in the book, there is no back story on mike enslin. And i like that it brought everything back to the idea that the only reason mike enslin endured the hell of room 1408 is because he is a writer and knew it would make an amazing story. And the worst part is the room wont let mike escape. Apr 04, 2017 it wasnt trying to make a point, unlike the movie. Once a smoker, enslin quit after his brother died of lung cancer. The room tries to get mike enslin to commit suicide, but he refuses, turning the tables by managing to light the cursed location on fire and burn it down, much to olins delight.
Jackson, the author is the first person in years to stay in the reputedly haunted room. John cusack mike enslin is the primary character in the stephen king short story 1408, which appeared in the blood and smoke audio book. However, he does carry a cigarette around everywhere he goes by placing it above his ear, just in case a nuclear bomb should be dropped, so he could. Stephen king brought the character of mike enslin into the book and made him feel and act as being a suspense and thriller it is a great choice for adults and mature audiences. Based on the stephen kings short story of the same name, 1408 is the story of mike enslin john cusack, author of two hit books. Stephen king brought the character of mike enslin into the book and made him feel. A man who specialises in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the dolphin hotel. In room 1408, mike takes many ample swigs directly from a large bottle of alcohol. The story focuses on mike enslin, an author and paranormal investigator who, oddly enough, doesnt actually believe in. Ask anything you want to know, or answer other peoples questions. Enslin s phantomfree run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the. Theres no exwife to call for help over web video chat and theres no dead daughter to mourn. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and smoke, released in 1999.
Defying the warnings of the hotel manager samuel l. John cusack plays mike enslin, a horror writer who writes phony books about haunted places. He frequently checks into hotel rooms thought to be haunted, but none of them really are. Enslin finds a book of matches and sets himself on fire, which breaks the spell of the room long enough so that he can escape. Mar 31, 2018 first of all, in the book, there is no back story on mike enslin. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and. He has no reason to fear room 1408 any more than any other room hes been to. All of the books i saw including the one pictured above had a to ann all the best mike enslin signature in them, but the handwriting and location of the signature were significantly different in each one. In 2002, 1408 was collected in written form as the 12th story in kings collection everythings eventual. He retired from writing after a harrowing encounter in room 1408 of the hotel dolphin, traumatized by the supernatural experience. The cynical and skeptical writer mike enslin writes books evaluating supernatural phenomena in hotels, graveyards and other haunted places, usually debunking the mystery. It starred john cusack as mike enslin, a paranormal skeptic who pens books debunking supernatural occurrences.
From that experience he could write a book that would sell more than any of his other books. Mike drinks hard alcohol and beer on a number of occasions. We have magnetic cards also, but electronics dont seem to work in 1408. He receives an anonymous postcard in the mail telling him not to stay in room 1408 at the dolphin hotel in new york city.
Directed by swedish filmmaker mikael hafstrom, 1408 was released back in 2007 and hailed as one of the best horror movies of that year. The genius of 1408 isnt that the room is evil, but that mike enslin faces his personal demons here and, ultimately, during the climax of the story, experiences a. It was first read by king for his 1999 audiobook collection blood and smoke. Mike enslin s the long road home books from the movie 1408 dimension films, 2007.
He travels to new york to spend one night in room 1408 of the dolphin hotel, which is permanently unavailable for guests. Olin was really afraid of room 1408, and of what might happen to mike there tonight. One of stephen king s better short stories and an unusual variation on the classic haunted hotel room, 1408 tells the story of mike enslin, a professional supernatural investigatordebunker and horror writer who stumbles on something much worse than a ghost. This was well argumented in the book, and its well argumented in the movie. At first enslin is unfazed by 1408s morbid history. One day, after a book signing in which he states that he doesnt believe in the paranormal, he is involved in a surfing accident, but recovers and receives a strange postcard in the. Mike enslin, bestselling author of true ghost stories, decides to spend the night in new york citys most haunted hotel room. In researching for his latest book, enslin is intrigued by the infamous room 1408. But room 1408 may have a few nasty surprises in store. Stephen kings 1408 first appeared in his nonfiction book on writing as an example of how a book develops from first to second draft. There were some differences between the book and the movie, as you might expect. Finally, the directors cut has mike also setting the room on fire and also dying, but this time, its olin who listens to the tape with the dead daughters voice. Mike enslin john cusack is an author who specializes in horror, but who only believes in what he can see with his eyes and touch.
As he collapses, on fire, outside the room, another hotel guest who is getting ice. Renowned horror novelist mike enslin cusack only believes what he can see with his own two eyes. Reading about the 70 minutes mike enslin spends in room 1408 might not scare you. Stephen kings 1408 technically on the thirteenth floor of a hotel designed by the superstitious, room 1408 has long been kept empty for the safety of guests at the hotel. Based on the stephen kings short story of the same name, 1408 is the story of mike enslin john cusack, author of two hit books focusing on supernatural and paranormal. But it will take you on a feverish, dreamlike trip with vivid colours, odd sounds, and a voice saying things that make absolutely no sense. The story focuses on mike enslin, an author and paranormal. Viewing this as a challenge, mike arrives at the dolphin and specifically requests to book. Mike enslin is the author of the successful ten nights in ten haunted. In 2002, it was reprinted in written form as the twelfth story in the compilation everythings eventual. But he must live to write about it without the help of his ex bestfriends, his trusty smokes. Mike enslin writes books evaluating supernatural phenomena in hotels, graveyards and other haunted places, usually debunking the mystery. Cusack plays mike enslin, a cynical writer a common king protagonist who authors books about the supernatural world books that both exploit the publics fascination with the occult and.
King decided to expand it into a short story, which was then published in the collection everythings eventual 2003. As mike enslin john cusack is walking to room 1408, reading the files gerald olin samuel l. But enslin s phantomfree run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious dolphin hotel for his latest project, ten nights in haunted hotel rooms. In 1408, mike enslin, best selling author of true ghost stories, decides to spend the night in new york citys most haunted hotel room. Writer mike enslin, an author of two hit books, focuses on supernatural phenomena. The creepy true story that inspired the movie screen rant. Cusack plays mike enslin, a jaded writer who traffics in trashy books about cursed locales. The book might, and mind you a book made into a movie is always too fast paced with so much detail crammed into 2 hours. Mike uses an old civil rights law to bypass the hotels rules and manages to get inside room 1408. As research for his latest book, enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a new york city hotel by personally staying as a guest in the fabled room. Ten nights in ten haunted houses, ten nights in ten haunted graveyards, and ten nights in ten haunted castles. Mike enslin is a writer of nonfiction works based on the theme of haunted places. Jan 01, 2010 based on the short stephen king horror story of the same name, 1408 is about supernatural writer mike enslin, an author of two successful books on supernatural phenomena. Mike writes successful books evaluating supernatural events in which he has no belief.
Mike enslin takes this as a challenge as well as attempts to get accessibility to room 1408 however finds that the resort manager has actually restricted any person from entering the room because of all individuals that have actually died because area 56 in all. At first enslin is unfazed by 1408 s morbid history. Jul 16, 2018 mike enslins experiences in room 1408, however, are not all illusion. Olin gives enslin the room key most hotels have switched to magnetics. Enslin reconciles with his estranged wife, writes a book about his perceived experiences. Theres nothing about him being a writer in a slump nor about signing autographs on tour to stay away from his family becausehe doesnt have a family in the book. He is the protagonist of mikael hafstroms film 1408 which is based on a short story by stephen king.
The first book pictured here is the one he picks up off the. In fact, since his daughter died, hes had a hard time believing in anything anymore. They prove to be bestsellers, but enslin feels some guilt at their success, privately acknowledging that he does not believe in the paranormal. Mar 22, 2020 the beginning of 1408 s end is the same in both the theatrically released cut and the directors cut, which contains the originally planned conclusion. The first book pictured here is the one he picks up off the table and looks at, which is seen very closeup on screen. Jun 22, 2007 adapted from a king short story 1408 centers on renowned author mike enslin john cusack who writes books about haunted placeshouses hotels graveyards etc. For instance, one night in a hotel room, he dictates notes and plows his way through a basket of minibarsized bottles of booze. Hes worried that he comes off as a hack despite his numerous bestselling books, or billpayers as he calls them. We wonder if this could be true as enslin interacts with others outside the room, including desperate attempts at video. Being a suspense and thriller it is a great choice for adults and mature audiences.
It would help the section on room 1408, add to the ominous tone the readers of his books seemed to crave, and that wasnt all. The movie also adds some grisly details to up the scare factor, like the sewing machine salesman who tried to sew himself together again after staying in the room. He writes books about supposedly haunted places, giving them ghoul ratings, without ever believing in the supernatural. Mike enslins the long road home books from 1408 movie props.