09/06/2022
John Cusack has an interesting mixed history when it comes to Stephen King adaptations. To date, he has starred in three films based on the author’s stories, and there is a broad scale when it comes to quality. In 1986 he had a supporting role in Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me, which is unquestionably one of the greatest Stephen King movies of all time; and 30 years later he starred in Tod Williams’ Cell, which is unquestionably one of the worst (my column about that one is on schedule for September).
Right in the middle of the pack, though, is Mikael Håfström’s 1408: a solid, albeit mostly forgettable one-man show for the star.
Released in theaters on June 22, 2007, it’s one of the biggest Stephen King box office hits ever released, having made $133 million worldwide. 1408 is one of Hollywood’s greatest successes making a feature based on King short story – though it took some extra work to get finished, as test audience reactions resulted in two alternate endings being shot in addition to what’s featured in the theatrical cut. With that kind of complex history, it’s a fun study for this week’s Adapting Stephen King.