The worst thing in the world - apart from my personal top 5, death metal and Paris Hilton - is an attempt at a documentary about the paranormal. I honestly and truly cannot think of a single person who would enjoy an hour of embellished reports, crappy camerawork, melodrama, and string music from the 60s.

So when they make a movie about the documentation of the paranormal, you know it’s gonna be good. Enter 1408.

The story is pretty straightforward. Well, not really, but the plot is - a ghost hunter-slash-myth debunker Mike Enslin finds out about a hotel in New York City (note - not a washed out redneck backwater in Louisiana. New York City) called the Dolphin Hotel. The message accompanying the note simply told him not to stay there, so in the interests of progressing the plot, he does.

The hotel manager resists, but eventually gives him keys to the room. I found the first few seconds in the room to be the funniest of all. Then at some point, despite the hotel manager’s assurance that electronics don’t function in 1408, a radio alarm clock switches on, plays music for a minute (lyrics to the tune of “we’re just getting started”). It scrambles, sets to 60 minutes, starts counting down, and the mayhem commences with ungodly force.

It’s a brilliant movie. Pure and simple. I eventually stopped trying to anticipate what would happen next (as I always do with horror movies), and just let the incredibly twisted twists happen. Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Go get it NOW, damnit, lol.

I’d say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. Take it from someone who thought the Dark Knight was mediocre at best :)