Mikael Håfström Movies

Inspired by author Matt Baglio's nonfiction book of the same name, director Mikael Håfström's supernatural thriller traces the experiences of a young seminary student who discovers the true power of faith after being drafted into the Vatican's Exorcism School and confronted by the forces of darkness. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A writer renowned for debunking infamous paranormal events is confronted by a force that he cannot explain upon checking into room 1408 of the notoriously haunted Dolphin Hotel. Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is an author who specializes in horror, but who only believes in what he can see with his eyes and touch with his hands. Having constructed an entire career on his ability to dispel superstitious "haunted house" rumors, Mike is convinced that the afterlife is a manmade construct designed to offer false comfort to the weak minded. Mike's latest project is a book entitled "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms," and it seems that in room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, this skeptical scribe may finally find proof of the supernatural. Implored by the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson) not to enter room 1408, Mike defiantly procures the key and prepares to dispel yet another spectral sham. Now, as is the case with many of life's most profound epiphanies, the writer who thought he knew it all is caught entirely off guard at the precise moment he least expected it. Subsequently faced with undeniable proof of an afterlife, Mike may have a best-seller on his hands if he can simply survive until sunrise. Mary McCormack and Jasmine Jessica Anthony co-star in director Mikael Håfström's (Derailed) adaptation of an original short story by horror icon Stephen King. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Police officers in a rural Swedish community are forced to come up with creative and slightly unlawful tactics in order to preserve their jobs in Kopps, the second film directed by Swedish filmmaker Josef Fares. The good citizens of Hogbodorna, Sweden, are just that -- good citizens -- and thus leave the town's law enforcement officials with little more to do than frequent cafés and drink copious amounts of coffee. After financial and criminal assessments by regional political leaders lead to the decision to close the station and lay off its employees, officers Jacob (Fares Fares, brother to director Josef) and Lasse (Göran Ragnerstam) decide to manufacture a little mischief to prove to the politicians the necessity of maintaining the force. Beginning by attempting to convince the town drunk to become a thief, Jacob and Lasse quickly get lost in their scheme as their activities escalate toward more menacing and destructive criminal acts. Meanwhile, Officer Benny (Torkel Petersson) -- who doesn't know of his co-workers' plans and fancies himself to be a maverick cop with a bit of a violent streak -- begins to suspect some sort of organized crime syndicate must be gaining a foothold in his town and sets out to apprehend or destroy the perpetrators, leading to a wildly hilarious and nearly devastating showdown. Shortly after Kopps' release in 2003, Adam Sandler and Columbia Pictures announced their plans to remake the comedy into an English-language release. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi