1408

1408 is the title of a Stephen King short story and of a 2007 film adaptation. It centers on a haunted hotel room, designated as Room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, which is said to be malevolent and capable of causing horrific experiences to anyone who stays there.

The short story was first published in Esquire in 2002 as part of Stephen King’s Everything’s Eventual collection. It follows Mike Enslin, a skeptical author of paranormal travelogues, who rents Room 1408 despite warnings from hotel staff and a history of deaths linked to the room. Inside, the room manifests a series of terrifying hallucinations and psychological torments that exploit Enslin’s memories and guilt. Attempts to leave are thwarted as the boundary between reality and illusion blurs. The narrative is known for its tight, claustrophobic tension and its exploration of fear, grief, and the limits of belief.

The 2007 film adaptation, directed by Mikael Håfström, stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin and Samuel L. Jackson as the Dolphin Hotel manager who warns him away from the room. The screenplay, by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, adapts King’s premise for the screen, retaining the room’s escalating psychological horror and its assault on Enslin’s psyche. The film emphasizes atmosphere, suspense, and special effects, and received generally positive commentary for its performances and effective mounting of dread.

Despite differences in medium, both versions depict Room 1408 as a locus of supernatural power that preys on personal trauma and skepticism, delivering a cautionary tale about the limits of human control in the face of inexplicable evil.