Jacob's Ladder

I'll just start with intense, this movie is intense. I had heard people mention this film before, and Netflix was certain that I would like it, but wasn't in the mood for it for a long time, I mean lets be honest, there are certain movies you cant just pop in and watch (Schindler's List for example)

Jacob is in Vietnam, laughing and joking with his platoon mates, when they are attacked by the enemy, something goes wrong, some of the men go into spasms, others are killed horribly or maimed. He wakes up from this nightmare flashback in NYC 1975. He starts to see strange things, he is being bullied and attacked by people that appear to be demons to him. He is living with a woman (Jezzie) away from his ex-wife and children, but still thinks of them often. He starts getting sick, and "imagining" the demons more and more. The line between reality and delusions begins to blur to the point of no longer being able to distinguish the two, and is there a difference?

This film served as a frame work for other films in the past few years, with its confusing twists and turns. But as a pioneer of this sort of story it stands apart from the copy cats. This is by no means a horror movie, although we do at times see some very disturbing things, it is more a pure thriller. He is freaking out just as much as we as the audience is, because unlike a horror movie we are just as in the dark as Jacob is.

With a strong performance by Tim Robbins the film revolves around him almost entirely even with a cast of supporting characters who are just as interesting and well played. The title refers to a few things, one a possible drug called "Ladder" which creates a sort of aggressive frenzy in those who are exposed to it. As well as referring to the biblical staircase known as Jacob's Ladder which you ascend to get into heaven. For a thriller there is a lot of supernatural, specifically biblical implications in the story. The demons that are watching him, and tormenting him are real, the idea of going to hell is fresh in the men's minds. After coming out of Vietnam they are broken and tortured by what they did and saw, and to them Hell is a very real thing.

The lighting and Cinematography was very impressive, I am a sucker for a dark image and someone who is unafraid of shadow, and they bathed the film in it. There was one scene I wish they had lit differently, but was overall not to much of a distraction. The lighting fit with dealing with the dark nature of the film as well as the inner workings of Jacob's broken soul and psyche.

After this I am in the mood for something a fair lighter, maybe something that doesn't deal with death so much...maybe. This is a benchmark in its genre, it really pushes the bounds and should be seen. 8/10 stars.

Director: Adrian Lyne

Starring: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Pena, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven