Phobophobia 1408 is full of events representing different phobias. Pyrophobia, frigophobia, and acrophobia are just few of the many phobias shown in the story. Another three that stick out are phasmophobia, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia. While others may lurk in the background, The fears of ghosts, tight spaces, and helplessness steal the spotlight. These three fears are foundations that Stephen King used to turn 1408 a truly scary story.
One of the main phobias shown in 1408 is phasmophobia. Phasmophobia is the fear of ghosts or spirits. This fear is one of the most present phobias in the story, as Mike Enslin is constantly catching glimpses of spirits of previous residents of room 1408 roaming about the room. Along with that, he returns to the bathroom to find the towels and toilet paper once again folded, pictures …show more content…
After the door knob comes off in Mike’s hand, the despair begins to set in. He tries to get a hold of the front desk, only to get recordings. Later, Mike tries to escape the room by climbing out the window, only to find that all the other windows are gone. After a while of just sitting, Mike decides to call his wife for help. During the call with his wife, Mike’s own image takes over the conversation, and afterwards smiles back at him, shortly before the sprinkler system destroys his laptop. Later, when his wife calls him back, she tells him that the police are in room 1408, but it is empty. All of the phobias shown in 1408 work together to make it a true horror story. The transition to film grows upon the phobias to make this tactic more effective. It does a terrific job of visualizing determination on Mike’s face while trying to escape, or showing the true fear when all seems hopeless. It shows him accepting his death during the fire, and his true relief when waking up in the hospital for real. Whatever the spirits were lurking in room 1408, they do not play