This Underrated Stephen King Adaptation Just Returned To Streaming (And It’s Perfect for Halloween)

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With so many Stephen King adaptations available to stream this Halloween, fans shouldn’t overlook a hidden treasure for their movie nights. Since his first novel came out in 1974, King has become incredibly skilled at creating captivating and suspenseful horror stories, scaring audiences both in books and on screen with tales of monsters, scary events, and unsettling places that feel relatable and ordinary. Films like Carrie, The Shining, and Misery have firmly established King’s place in horror history, but one other adaptation of his work really deserves more attention, especially now that it’s back on streaming.

Hotel rooms often have a strange feeling, but 1408 might be the creepiest one yet. Director Mikael Håfström brought Stephen King’s short story – originally found in the audio collection Blood and Smoke and later in Everything’s Eventual – to the screen. It began streaming on Peacock on September 1st. The movie has a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with critics giving it a 79% score. 1408 stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin, a writer who tries to prove paranormal claims are false. He checks into the infamous room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, intending to disprove the stories of ghostly happenings. However, he quickly realizes he’s caught in a truly terrifying situation.

Why You Should Watch 1408

If you’re looking for a Stephen King adaptation to watch this Halloween, 1408 is a great choice. It really shows how effective psychological horror can be. John Cusack gives a fantastic performance as Mike, perfectly portraying a man whose disbelief gradually breaks down within the incredibly frightening haunted hotel room. The movie brilliantly depicts a slow loss of sanity and a descent into madness that is genuinely chilling. By focusing on just one location and psychological tension rather than gore or jump scares, the film successfully creates a strong feeling of isolation and dread that you can feel through the screen.

Though it came out 17 years ago, 1408 hasn’t gotten as much attention as newer Stephen King adaptations like Doctor Sleep and It, it’s still a truly excellent film. It effectively conveys the feeling and fear of the original story and also develops it into a captivating movie experience. The film remains impressive even now, due to its strong visuals, script, and overall quality.

Other Horror Movies Now on Peacock

If you’re a Peacock subscriber searching for scary movies to enjoy this Halloween, you’ll find a lot to choose from beyond 1408. Starting September 1st, Peacock began streaming Candyman III, The Creature Walks Among Us, Drag Me to Hell, Firestarter, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, the classic Psycho, Terrifier 3, and The Thing (from 1982).

Next month, the NBCUniversal streaming service will add a bunch of scary movies. Starting October 1st, you’ll be able to stream films like Dead Silence, Fright Night, Mama, The Mist, The Omen (1976), Silent Hill, and The Wolf Man (1941). These will join existing horror content including movies from the Friday the 13th, Leprechaun, and Scream series.

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2025-09-30 19:48