Jacob's Ladder

Very boring. Nothing is clear except we know nothing the protagonist sees is real. The problem is there's no progression. It's just a long psychotic episode.

Masterfully shot and executed film

This movie was good. I like the style and the scenes. The demons were done really well. It leaves you thinking at the end to a certain extent.

A typical, restrained suspense movie from the nineties, influenced by Blade Runner, but with a message and form that is not the norm. The entire runtime of the movie, the structure is so jumbled it is hard to follow, and that is by design. We're literally experiencing the halucinations as Jacob is experiencing them. The flashbacks are then not flashbacks as they are part of the same narrative that's moving forward. It doesn't have to make sense, because it doesn't make sense for Jacob. I kept looking for logic within it and kept wondering if there was not some extraneous force that was causing Jacob's struggle. Yes there was, but not in the way in imagined it. I thought his girlfriend was really a witch and this was some retelling of Rosemary's Baby. In a way, kind of, but not entirely so. Nothing in this movie is true and yet all of it is true. As Dumbledore once said: "Of course it is happening inside your head, [...] but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?". At first I was annoyed at the ending, it didn't make sense to end with Jacob dying in a tent after the halucinogenic episode he experienced by the experimental drugs. But now that I am writing this, I am liking the movie more. Because now, I have to question everything the movie showed me. If this drug made a person go to his deepest, rawest self, pure fear, then Jacob's biggest fear was losing his son, Gabe (Macauley Culkin, so tiny). But it also shows him things that he has imagined, but not acted upon because as a human he is moral (being together with Jezebel, which he told his wife Sarah happened in a dream). It's a really inventive movie and it's not perfect, but I like the way how it handled the narrative, structure and plot to tackle Jacob's experience.

while all of the acting was done quite well, the script is convoluted and the movie takes too long to get to the point. in my opinion, the ending was the weakest point given all of the buildup, but it still felt immensely vague. i don't think it was clearly determined whether the events of the film were a dream or a hallucination, or which were definitely real. its just a very convoluted film in the wrong ways, and i felt that it wasted my time with the promise of horrific special effects or an eerie atmosphere that never truly showed up. i can understand if people like this as a cult classic or something, but it's simply overrated and runs on for too long. there are zero "trippy" visuals despite what some other viewers might lead you to believe, and only a little gore in one or two scenes.

Jacob's Ladder (1990), directed by Adrian Lyne, is a haunting and unforgettable journey into the darkest recesses of the human psyche. Combining chilling horror, gripping suspense, and emotional depth, this film is a must-watch for fans of the genre and anyone who appreciates complex storytelling. Tim Robbins delivers a career-defining performance as Jacob Singer, a Vietnam veteran grappling with harrowing flashbacks, surreal visions, and a spiraling sense of reality. Robbins' portrayal is deeply affecting, capturing the anguish, confusion, and vulnerability of a man caught between the physical world and something far more terrifying. The film's narrative structure is disorienting in the best possible way, mirroring Jacob's fractured mental state. As the lines between reality, hallucination, and memory blur, the audience is drawn into a nightmarish world where nothing is as it seems. The unsettling imagery-creeping shadows, distorted faces, and hellish dreamscapes-is as unnerving as it is visually stunning, creating an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. Beyond its chilling visuals, Jacob's Ladder is also a deeply emotional film that explores themes of trauma, guilt, and redemption. The story's layers gradually peel back to reveal a poignant and devastating truth, making the final moments both heartbreaking and cathartic. Maurice Jarre's haunting score enhances the film's mood, weaving a sense of melancholy and foreboding that perfectly complements the visuals. Lyne's direction is masterful, balancing psychological terror with emotional resonance to create a film that is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. Final Thoughts: Jacob's Ladder is a tour de force of psychological horror and suspense. With its powerful performances, stunning visuals, and deeply emotional core, it stands as one of the most unique and impactful films of its kind. A true classic that rewards multiple viewings, this is a film that stays with you long after the lights come up. Rating: 9/10 A chilling, emotionally charged masterpiece that is a must-watch for any fan of horror or suspense.

Trippy. Keeps you on the edge of your seat, but you’re not really sure why. The atmosphere is amazing and creepy. I loved the performance from Pruitt Taylor Vince even though he only had like 7 minutes of screentime. The ending comes off as a little cheap in our modern moviegoer mindset, but 34 years ago it would have been seriously stunning.

One of the best psychological horror films. Tim Robbins is superb in this film and even now 34 years later it’s a must see.

One of the best movies out there, It's what inspired Silent Hill

It's a man, lost in a state of delirium, fighting with angles and going though hell, a hell made by himself. And trying to escape this hellish delusion only sinks you deeper into it. The film perfectly demonstrates a psychological hell, with creatures only imaginable in an evil world (and yet they are not evil!). This made this film one of the most influential films of the 90s, influencing the famous Silent Hill series. And even though it's not the best, but still blurs the line between real and unreal. Still the story could be much better. There are many logical contradictions, which is impossible even in an illogical psychological state. The worst part is actually the ending! The ending is not at all compatible with the rest of the story. There are also some illogical elements that can be considered as the illogicality of the delusion. As for the cinematography, considering that it's made in 90s, we can say Jeffrey L. Kimball did a great job. I absolutely love the special effects and specially the rapid head movements. And the acting of Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Peña are adorable. We deeply feel Jacob's fear and confusion and Jezzie's compassion and concern. And as for the ending text, it's a perfect example of how a movie can claim to be real, when even the director says it's not. There are reports of some secret tests in the Vietnam War, but the use of BZ is never documented. As Adrian Lyne says, he was inspired by Martin A. Lee's book Acid Dreams: The CIA, LSD and Sixties Rebellion, but "nothing in the book suggests that the drug BZ was used on U.S. troops."