Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Jacob's Ladder (1990)

5

JLauOct 5, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Army vet is experiencing hallucinations that are also shared by the rest of his platoon and these turn out to be caused by an experimental military drug that increases aggression in soldiers but actually, no, he's been dead for the entire film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

ryancarroll88Aug 27, 2010

A surprisingly effective atmospheric thriller whose visual artistry has influenced the horror genre both in movies (Asian horror) and video games (Silent Hill, definitely). Still, the pacing of the movie is a bit off, as there are parts thatA surprisingly effective atmospheric thriller whose visual artistry has influenced the horror genre both in movies (Asian horror) and video games (Silent Hill, definitely). Still, the pacing of the movie is a bit off, as there are parts that I felt could have been left out, and I didn't think Tim Robbins was a good choice for the role. On top of that, I pretty much predicted the ending before even watching, but luckily the director was smart enough not to make it a blatant twist, but rather braces the viewer for the revelation, suggesting it throughout the movie (a rare case for thrillers) Also, wtf - Jason Alexander and Macauly Culkin?… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

TheQuietGamerJan 17, 2018

I feel that Jacob's Ladder was ahead of it's time. So much so in fact, that it wasn't quite able to pull off all of it's lofty ambitions in the most satisfying of ways. Part psychological horror film and part political-thriller. The latter ofI feel that Jacob's Ladder was ahead of it's time. So much so in fact, that it wasn't quite able to pull off all of it's lofty ambitions in the most satisfying of ways. Part psychological horror film and part political-thriller. The latter of these is what receives the most attention. So what we end up with is less The Shining, and more The Manchurian Candidate with the occasional bits of grotesque imagery. Outside of a disturbing party sequence and a twisted trip to a hospital's psych-ward, the rest of the "scary" scenes are handed in such a way where the majority of the movie feels like the early build up moments one would find in any other horror film. The kind that are meant to ease the viewers into the experience before diving into the really freaky stuff. Jacob's Ladder missed that opportunity to go all in with it's demonic visions, instead devoting the majority of it's focus to the wartime conspiracy story.

Disappointing for sure, but the brilliance is still here so the movie never stopped being influential. Particularly to the Silent Hill video game series, which I feel really perfected the idea here of a person being tormented by nightmarish entities of a symbolic nature in order to come to terms with the more tragic of life's events. Things take a philosophical turn towards the end. As wrapped up as I was in the mystery, it's the message that made it all worthwhile. Jacob's Ladder has something to say that gives it meaning. Not all horror films can say that. Not entirely well-executed, but is significant and interesting enough to be worth a watch for the more discerning horror fans that are into the genre for more than just blood and cheap thrills.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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10

BoffboffJun 21, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you think its about flashback caused by the war YOU ARE WRONG! If you think this movie is about paranoia, YOU ARE WRONG ! The movie is about the human mind ! the story examines the undetermined mystery of death. in my opinion jacob's ladder was the prototype for movies like "the matrix", "stay" or "the 13th floor".
If you are searching for an simple horror movie or thriller then you you shouldn't watch jacob's ladder. The movie is even more complex than the most of you might think. Plz don't rate this movie if you don't get the (real) conclusion.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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10

Subject98Apr 3, 2013

One of the few psychological horror films I've seen done really well. It's not your traditional kind of horror movie where the emphasis is on jump scares and freaking you out with gory imagery, though those things are present. This oneOne of the few psychological horror films I've seen done really well. It's not your traditional kind of horror movie where the emphasis is on jump scares and freaking you out with gory imagery, though those things are present. This one follows a war veteran as his deeply rooted trauma slowly takes hold of him after returning home. I don't wanna spoil anything though as the plot takes a lot of twists and dips. See it.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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7

ReubenIsAGodAug 21, 2015

How To describe Jacob's Ladder. Horrifying, confusing and just all in all a freaking roller coaster **** storm of what the **** I don't nessasarly wanna say i liked the film, because throughout the Majority of the film i was incrediblyHow To describe Jacob's Ladder. Horrifying, confusing and just all in all a freaking roller coaster **** storm of what the **** I don't nessasarly wanna say i liked the film, because throughout the Majority of the film i was incredibly confused and the ending, oh god the ending. But i enjoyed the experience, and i would say that it is definitely a film worth watching, just on the merits of what the film has influenced, for example the video game series Silent Hill. Definitely check this film out if you love trippy horror stuff.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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7

PanchogulJul 18, 2020

Vine a ver esta película porque leí que la franquicia de Silent Hill agarró inspiración de Jacob's Ladder y quería comprobarlo, son obvias las referencias del videojuego hacia esta película, la cual me resultó un poco confusa y turbia, peroVine a ver esta película porque leí que la franquicia de Silent Hill agarró inspiración de Jacob's Ladder y quería comprobarlo, son obvias las referencias del videojuego hacia esta película, la cual me resultó un poco confusa y turbia, pero valió la pena, bastante buena.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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4

BroyaxJan 25, 2017

Un film sur la guerre du Vietnam et la folie, l'angoisse et le deuil... entre autres. D'excellentes idées dans cette histoire mais on ne s'en rend compte qu'à la fin, une fois que le scénario a fini de brouiller les pistes. Non pas qu'on luiUn film sur la guerre du Vietnam et la folie, l'angoisse et le deuil... entre autres. D'excellentes idées dans cette histoire mais on ne s'en rend compte qu'à la fin, une fois que le scénario a fini de brouiller les pistes. Non pas qu'on lui en veuille, car c'est justement tout l'intérêt d'égarer le spectateur en conjectures...

Mais -et le mais est rédhibitoire- putain que c'est laborieux pour en arriver là ! la narration est d'une lenteur terrible -en dépit de la prestation de Tim Robbins- qui entraîne de nombreux décrochages de l'attention, caractérisés par des baillements inopinés... Malgré cette histoire originale et presque poétique, la réalisation bancale d'Adrian Lynne, son apathie, débouche sur un film raté mais encore à peu près regardable pour qui en a la patience.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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10

JohnL.Jun 24, 2007

I was freaked-out by this film when I originally saw it at an advanced screening, and I have enjoyed it more and more on repeat viewings. A brilliant examination of redemption and love, death and forgiveness. Tim Robbins gives a brave and I was freaked-out by this film when I originally saw it at an advanced screening, and I have enjoyed it more and more on repeat viewings. A brilliant examination of redemption and love, death and forgiveness. Tim Robbins gives a brave and uncompromising performance!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

7

SpangleFeb 28, 2014

Wow, so my brain is mush. Right when you think it cannot get weirder, it absolutely shocks you and does exactly that. One of the things this film does really film is not just confuse you, but make you feel as though you are experiencing whatWow, so my brain is mush. Right when you think it cannot get weirder, it absolutely shocks you and does exactly that. One of the things this film does really film is not just confuse you, but make you feel as though you are experiencing what Jacob is experiencing. The bizzare things he sees suddenly effect you as though it is happening to you. I also really loved the religious imagery and how it ties into the film so neatly and adds a true metaphysical spin to this story. This is undoubtedly one that you will have to watch twice to truly understand and see all the signs pointing to the ending. I always thought that films such as A Clockwork Orange or Requiem for a Dream would be the most jarring and flat out...just what films I would ever watch, but no, this one takes the crown. It is also a tough one to write a review on since I do not want to give anything away. Just make sure that if you have time and the opportunity is presented that you watch this one. It will mess with you in ways you never anticipated.

One complaint I have is that it sort of went over the top at times. Once you know what angle they were trying to play, some scenes almost feel as though they are excess with the sole goal of further terrifying the viewer and not necessarily progressing much.… Expand