Born in Lund, Sweden, Mikael Håfström studied film at the University of Stockholm and the School of Visual Arts.

[5] In 2005, Håfström directed Derailed, which starred Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston.

[6] Håfström directed 1408, a horror film based on the Stephen King short story of the same name and starring John Cusack, in 2007.

[8] He directed The Rite, an exorcism thriller film starring Anthony Hopkins, in 2011.

[9] His 2013 film, Escape Plan, starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.