Jacob's Ladder (Review)
United States/1990
Format Viewed For Review: Netflix Streaming
Netflix Streaming: No
Amazon Prime: No
"...a film that
demands a second viewing, and I don't mind giving into those demands."
Jacob
Singer (Tim Robbins), a Vietnam War veteran turned postal worker,
suffers from bizarre and even dangerous hallucinations induced by his
war experiences and the loss of his son prior...
Jacob's Ladder
follows Jacob as he tries to connect the pieces. He struggles to
remember one seemingly significant night during the Vietnam War -- a
night that he dreams of constantly -- and suffers from vivid,
nightmarish hallucinations. At the same time, Jacob's life is in
constant danger as he is attacked by strangers. The plot thickens when
his platoon confess to having similar symptoms. What happened on that
night in Vietnam? Is the army responsible? Or have they lost their
minds? Jacob's Ladder leads to a haunting yet meaningful ending -- an
ending we've seen plenty of times by now, but an ending I'd say is
iconic and shocking, especially for those who aren't familiar with the
psychological sub-genre of horror films.
Jacob's Ladder is an
incredibly engaging, subtly horrifying, and superbly effective mystery
film. I was hooked from beginning to end; being someone who's seen
hundreds and hundreds of films, I saw the ending coming for quite some
time, but I appreciated it, regardless. The film is ambiguous and
symbolic -- two attributes that helped further immerse me into Jacob's
Ladder. This isn't a traditional horror film -- don't expect gallons of
blood or gore, don't expect jump-scares or loud-noises, and so on.
Instead, Jacob's Ladder works as a moderately paced slow-burn, really
eating at your psyche. It features a well-developed ominous atmosphere,
as well. Jacob's Hallucinations are as honest as they can get -- there
not overwhelming, but they are realistic, in a sense.
The
mystery is engaging. It often jumps from reality to fantasy, from
present to past. Some of Jacob's hallucinations and delusions works so
well, I felt like I was hallucinating. What I'm saying is: Jacob's
Ladder is a film that distorts reality, and with good reason. I know the
destination, right, but I don't know how I'm going to get there. There
are hints scattered throughout the film, some more blatant than others,
and some possible symbolism. Consequently, Jacob's Ladder is a film that
demands a second viewing, and I don't mind giving into those demands.
Tim
Robbins plays the lead, and he plays the lead well, especially during
the most demanding scenes; for some odd reasons, though, I felt like
this role would've been better suited for Michael Douglas. (Why?) The
film is shot well, including the Vietnam scenes. It's not heavy on
special effects, but the makeup is great when it's used. The music is
subtle, blending well with the film. Adrian Lyne is fantastic in
crafting such an ominous atmosphere and telling such an immersive
mystery.
Overall, Jacob's Ladder
is a haunting psychological
horror film. The horror is subtle, and may not be appreciated by the
jump-scare fans (which I'm occasionally a part of), but I found it to be
psychologically disturbing. The plot kept me engaged, and often had me
questioning my own sanity. (I'm not crazy, trust me.) I loved the
story so much, I plan on giving it another go as soon as possible. I
strongly recommend this masterpiece for open-minded fans and fans of
challenging and ambiguous films.
Score: 10/10
Parental
Guide: Some strong violence and blood, some gore, and nudity. (Jacob's
girlfriend is often topless, and a few other topless scenes, as well.)
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