In the film “1408,” horror writer Mike Enslin (John Cusack) has reviewed one too many haunted sites to still believe in ghosts. After an anonymous post card tips him off to the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, Enslin isn’t deterred from the pleas of Mr. Olin (Samuel L. Jackson). As the hotel’s manager, Olin has seen-and cleaned-several dozen grisly suicides, all in room 1408. Enslin’s years of searching have yielded only disappointment, and thus, severe skepticism. However, room 1408, which Olin calls “f***ing evil” (as only Jackson could), manages to make Enslin a believer. “1408” breaks many recent trends in horror filmmaking – it’s not about an evil child, gruesome torture, or a “Saw” film. It’s hard to even classify the film as a horror movie, because horror movies carry a connotation that separates them from action, drama, and even comedy. “1408” is just a good movie. And it’s a good movie that happens to be pretty scary, at least as far as the PG-13 straightjacket will allow, though R-ratings in recent horror movies usually just mean more blood, language, and sex. As a good movie, “1408” doesn’t need to rely on any of these things, though it knows when and how to include what and where.Largely a psychological thriller, “1408” isn’t a movie to see for fun – though it does have some well-placed pop-up scares. The focus on the manipulation of such a claustrophobic space adds immeasurably to the film’s creepiness, as every small distortion brings Enslin a little closer to madness.Cusack delivers a great performance as the cynical writer who appears to be in control, though he rarely is. While his screen time is brief, Jackson’s performance is welcome, aside from a ridiculous 5-second shot near the end of the movie that feels like something more at home in “Snakes on a Plane.”Almost two hours long, “1408” has ample time for both suspense and a moment to breathe. Some of the downtime certainly could have offered a few more scares, though they are necessary to keep the film from becoming a cheap frightfest.Based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name, “1408” is obviously drawing from some good source material, as King’s stories are not only disturbing and lasting, but well-written and thought out. Thankfully, the film has retained all of this, and like any good horror film, will stay with you a little longer than you’d like.