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A ladder to a peak.

In a Rolling Stone interview,not only Tim Robbins does not say a word about this great role of his,but he also lets the magazine write "such moribund projects like "Jacob's ladder"".How can he underrate himself like that?Adrian Lyne has not produced masterpieces when he directs "Jacob":"Flashdance",9 1/2,a waste of film,and "fatal liaison "which makes up for its triteness by stealing the grand guignol bath tub scene from Henri-George Clouzot's "les Diaboliques".And yet,this is a masterpiece.How come?This must be the screenplay: a maze,where nightmares and reality are intimately connected.We think we are back to reality,we are still in a bad dream,and in the long run,we don't know where we stand anymore.Until the very end,which for once will not disappoint you because ,along the plot,there are strange signs,clues that justify the conclusion.But you will not be able to guess it anyway.Some scenes are very important for that matter:during the party,a black girl who plays the fortune-teller with Jacob's lines of the hand;the discussion with the chemist;the discovery ,in the hospital ,that there are absolutely no files concerning Jacob;The unfortunate hero climbing the stairs with his long lost child.Lyne uses threatening settings:the subway of which the doors are locked;
a bathroom turned into the antechamber of hell;the lawyer's office. Special effects are used only when necessary and to good results.The soundtrack is precise and haunting.And the director does not forget emotion:you will shed a tear when you hear Jacob talk about his beloved little boy whose photograph he's found again.Some will say it was influenced by "carnival of sorts".Perhaps so,but the latter is botched,a dated B movie,with an amateur side.On the other hand,"Jacob's ladder " did influence "The sixth sense" ,and a lot of the laurels bestowed on Bruce Willis's blockbuster should have been given to Adrian Lyne's movie.It stands as the best fantasy and horror film of the nineties,in my humble opinion.

An Excellent Movie Full of Symbolisms

There are some movies that really set a great precedent, and "Jacob's Ladder" is a leading example. Long before movies like "The Sixth Sense" or "The Others" were out, "Jacob's Ladder" was one of the first movies to play so artfully with combinations of the natural and the paranormal, the real and the surreal, and most importantly, a movie that manages to bring the viewer completely by surprise in the end, by making everything seen up to that point shown in a different perspective. The film is full of symbolisms, which are capable to be grasped by someone only if he/she sees the movie more than once. It is not a horror movie, yet there are some scenes that can definitely scare you quite much.In brief, it is a GREAT, 10 out 10, THOUGHT-PROVOKING movie, but be prepared for a hard ride when you watch it!And now, let me express my thoughts of how I interpreted it.*** WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD ***I subscribe to the following theory as expressed in several variations by other reviewers in this forum: Jacob gets hit by friendly fire in Vietnam, and his fellow soldiers try to rescue him, yet to no avail in the end. This is the "real" part of the film, which ends with the two doctors claiming that "we lost him" in the last scene.The "surreal" part that is taking part in Jacob's mind (or soul) throughout this period, is that he descends to hell (subway), straggles with demons (Jezzebel, evil doctors, "Santa Claus" in the street, security men, etc.), but finally the angels (chiropratic, Sarah, dead son, chemist) show him the way up to heaven. Throughout this process, he is punished for his noughty thoughts (or maybe acts) that he had with Jezzebel when he was married, he is told the truth about what happened to his "ladder"-drugged battalion (chemist), and he is taught to live with the fact that he has to reconcile with what haunts him and pass away peacefully (chiropractic).It is interesting to note that the film plays with many symbolisms: Biblical names (Jacob, Jezzebel, Sara), hellish subway where everything is locked, stairway to heaven with shining light, Jezzebel burns Sarah's and kids' photos in fire, demons with horns and tails, Jake burns in fever, etc. Moreover, the idea is that only Jake is salvated; his friends try to break free with him, but finally are doomed to stay in hell.I think that the more ones sees the film, the more he/she will find out new things. EXCELLENT!

A Profound and Riveting Film

Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is an American soldier serving in Vietnam in the late 60's. He and his comrades are relaxing in a clearing in the bush when they suddenly begin to feel terribly ill, some of them vomiting and undergoing frightening convulsions. There's a report of movement in the bush, gunfire erupts, mortar shells explode all around, and the soldiers respond with frenzied violence culminating in Singer being bayoneted in the stomach by an unseen enemy and later taken aboard a helicopter for medical evacuation.

In the next scene, Singer awakens from a nap on a deserted New York City subway car hurtling along the tracks. He doesn't know if he's passed his stop. He walks into the next car and asks a woman where they are. She just stares at him creepily. As the subway comes to a stop, he looks down and sees a disheveled figure lying across some seats by the exit, and there appears to be a squirming, snakelike creature protruding from his body. Singer hastily exits the subway car to find himself locked underground with no one else around. There appears to be an unlocked exit on the other side of the tracks, but as he makes his way across the tracks, he has to dodge a train that comes racing out of nowhere, and as the train flies away from him, he sees grotesque faces staring out at him from the windows.

Singer goes home to his girlfriend Jezebel (Elizabeth Pena) and tries to carry on his life as usual. He's an underachieving postal worker with a PhD living in a grimy New York apartment. But he's plagued by more and more demon-like figures and frightening experiences and learns that others who served with him in Vietnam and were with him on that fateful day in the bush are having similar experiences and dying one-by-one in mysterious ways. He goes to sleep and wakes up to find himself in bed with his former wife (Patricia Kalember) in their old apartment, and one of his young sons (Macaulay Culkin), who was fatally injured by a car years ago, walks into the room complaining that he can't sleep. Jacob tucks him into bed, bids goodnight to his other two children, and the next thing he knows, he's back with Jezebel. He becomes increasingly disoriented and frightened by his nightmarish experiences and desperately seeks answers to what's happening to him. A former Army chemist seems to have part of the answer, but his chiropractor friend Louis (Danny Aiello) may have a much bigger part of it when he quotes the great Christian mystic Meister Eckhart: "The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life: your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away, but they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul."

Jacob's Ladder was released in 1990. Its director was Adrian Lyne, who adapted it from a screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin. A number of prominent reviewers panned the film as a pretentious exercise in heavy-handed symbolism and incoherent obscurity, but I don't understand how they could have been addressing the same film I saw. I found Jacob's Ladder to be a remarkable meditation on life and death and an extraordinarily compelling piece of filmmaking. If I had a top ten list of my all-time favorite films, Jacob's Ladder would definitely be on it. I give it an exceedingly rare A+

I strongly recommend that you get the "Special Edition" version with a "Special Features" documentary on the making and meaning of the film. It features illuminating commentary by director Adrian Lyne and screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin.

What a masterpiece

This film is truly the most horrifying film of all time.I've read so many reviews about this film and most of the reviewers who have slated the film have no idea what they are on about.Each time i've see the film i notice something new in the storyline and eachtime it gets scarier.The way the film is shot in constantly gloomy lighting till the end was fantastic..the ending was superb seeing Jacob go up to heaven with his son sitting on the stairs waiting to collect him and the sunlight breaking thru the window.The thing that makes this film horrifying is the battle between heaven and hell..(which way will it go)or is he already in hell until he dies?...It's true you can interpret this film in so many ways and thats the SCARY thing.Danny Aiello's character was superb playing his angel...To be honest all you need to do is hear what Aiello says in the film and thats most of it understood.

Dark, Disturbing, Depressing, but Well Done

I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into when I decided to watch "Jacob's Ladder." All I knew was that it was an old movie that got rave reviews. It seemed like something I would like. Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see; good and bad. All I can say is that this movie was certainly different than what I was expecting. It is a unique and confusing film that leaves us hanging until the very unexpected ending. (Some said they knew it was going to end that way, but it certainly caught me off guard.)

Don't worry, I won't give away anything in this review. Be careful when you read the others because I have found that they give away the ending. Luckily I saw it before I read them. This movie is about a man named, Jacob Singer. Jacob is a Vietnam Veteran who just wants to live a normal life and work like everybody else does. But something strange has been happening to him. He is starting to see things; things that nightmares are made of. Strange demons and disturbing visuals keep haunting him day in and day out, and eventually it gets so bad that he can't determine what is real and what is not. The only thing he can know for sure is something strange happened that night when he was fighting in Vietnam. Was he part of an experiment that alters his mind and forces him to hallucinate, or has he just truly lost his grip or reality? What is real and what is not? You'll have to find out for yourself.

This movie mixes psychological thriller with drama and with film noir. It is a very dark, confusing, and even a depressing film to watch, but it was very well written and directed. The visuals that we are given, in a time where we didn't have the technological advances that we do now, are disturbing but breathtaking. We are put in a dilemma in which we the audience are just as confused as the protagonist and cannot distinguish what is real and what is not. We actually get to go through exactly what Jacob is experiencing.

There are a few extras on the DVD, but not that much. And because of how old the movie is, the video quality isn't the best. Maybe they'll attempt to restore is someday and give it some other extras that could help enrich the movie even more.

All in all, this was a pretty good movie. Not the best, and certainly one I wouldn't want to see over and over again. This is one I cannot promise that you will like. You'll defiantly want to rent this one first before purchasing. "Jacob's Ladder" is a one of a kind movie that will take you on a journey of going through Hell and back, and make you feel just as confused as Jacob Singer feels. A well done movie and a well thought out story.

A FILM FOR THOUGHTFUL FANS OF THE GENRE

*VERY LIGHT SPOILER INCLUDED*If you don't mind films that force you to think. If you enjoy films thathave a deep and meaningful underlying theme. If you enjoy filmsthat don't follow the typical structure of a Hollywood movie. If youenjoy films that have a unique voice and don't take the easy wayout. Then this is the film for you.As others have pointed out, this is a film that you either love orhate. There is rarely a middle ground. That's because if you "getit" you love it and if you don't... you hate it.It's a hard film to categorize, but since it's often found in the "horror"section at your local video store, we'll go with that. However, if youridea of a horror film is some maniac running around slashingteenagers or CGI ghosts terrorizing a haunted house, then thisisn't the film for you.If you've ever read "Dante's Inferno" you'll completely understandthis film. If not, then the general through line is this:It's the inner journey of a dying man as he comes to terms with hispersonal demons and ultimately has to decide whether he'llchoose heaven or hell in the next life.The acting is absolutely stunning. Tim Robbins gives a tour deforce. The bathtub scene is so gripping I almost believed he wasgoing to die.The direction is top notch and the cinematography is a wonder tobehold. It's a darkly beautiful film to watch. The whole experienceis like a celluloid fever dream.In a film category (horror) littered with Hollywood tripe, this is oneof the handful that can be considered a true classic.A real gem.

One man's demons are another's angels

I really did like this movie the moment that I started watching it. You never knew what was coming next and you had to watch it very closely or you would have missed something. I did go through the deleted scenes, and I did feel that the director should have kept in the "antidote" scene. I watched this movie because when I was reviewing Silent Hill, they were talking about this one as well. I am very glad that I did check it out. I highly recommend this movie to anyone that likes psychological horror.

"You're such a Heathen, Jezzie."

In the Torah and Old Testament, Jacob has a dream about a ladder to Heaven. Upon seeing the title of this movie, one might think it is a story about this Old Testament episode, or another religiously oriented movie. Far from biblical, the movie does have spiritual undertones. My suggestion is - watch it at least twice. The first time, just to let the movie take hold and throw you around like a roller coaster ride, the second time to watch all the subtleties of the movie.


As Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is wounded in Vietnam in the first ten minutes of the film, we are taken to a New York subway, where Jacob suddenly awakens from a dream of the war. From there, the movie grabs you and won't let go. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

His life soon after becomes a hellish nightmare of memories, of his dead son (McCaulley Caulkin) and what appears to be wartime demons, as well as a Government conspiracy to kill him and his platoon buddy survivors. Jacob begins to question his own sanity, while his girlfriend adds to his confusion. Only his chiropractor (Danny Aiello) turns out to be the only one Jacob can trust, but also the stabilizing element that Jacob needs throughout the movie.

After seeing this movie on HBO years ago, I was happy to see it released on DVD. The bonus features' documentary helps to clear up some questions I had about some scenes in the movie, and one of the deleted scenes clarified much more for me, the best answers for what the movie is about comes from statements within the movie itself. If you blink, you'll miss the hints.

This movie is an absolute mindblower! A very young McCauley Caulkin and a pre-Seinfeld Jason Alexander (with hair) add to the movie's enjoyable viewing. The drama is intense, the movie moves along at a steady pace, without it dumbing the audience down by revealing it's secrets too easily. "Psychological thriller" is too mild a term for this movie.

Wages of war, from a different perspective.

Amazing film. It is nothing like it looks on the surface. The scarely images and nightmares are not the real horror. Rather, it is about a horror of war. ( I am neither pro or anti war. I try to have an academic view of war and peace in general ) This is the best movie about Vietnam, in my humble opinion.

First time, I was so surprised at that ending I had to see it again soon. It really got to my head. I strongly urged my husband to join this time. He somewhat guessed, but was totally blown away. Everything became clear at second viewing as if entire background came in front. The ending is profoundly sad. My favorite scene is Jacob finally lifting his head slowly on the sofa in the morning sun. When I think of what went through his head all night ........ ( sob ) It is also a strangely calm moment.

This film is truly spiritual and enlightening. I watched Jacob as he went through his painful journey for two hours. This is only a story of one soldier's life, out of tens of thousands. Yet it dwells on my heart heavily with devine light reflecting on it.

A truly GREAT movie---as underrated as any has ever been...

I have loved this movie since seeing it upon its' initial theatrical release. Many sleepless nights (and views) later, I was able to begin to make some sense out what Jacob Singer was going through. As listed in the other reviews, this is not a movie for the 'casual' film-watcher, as it requires the viewers' full attention. The imagery is amazingly suggestive without being overt, and is one of my favorite elements---what you 'think' you see may sometimes be more psychologically terrifying than what you actually see...

But, this is NOT a horror film in the strictest sense, although it is horrifying, considering what Jacob Singer experiences. I am amazed, even here in 2007 how well this movie holds up in story, cinematography, acting, and general flow. It works itself into your brain and sets off a bomb inside, making you "live" through the mind of the protagonist, feeling his "ascension"...

If you've not seen this movie, then you've missed a real treat, but prepare yourself---don't watch it until you're mentally prepared, and certainly don't watch it if you're depressed already---this ain't no "feel good", "happy times" movie...

And, if you've not seen it in several years, then watch it again and take your own climb...or descent????

I'm not sure which is more annoying...

...the bleating of the illiterati (professional critics included!) who totally missed the point, or the spoiler-laden dissertations of the cognoscenti who want to ruin the ending for you. Suffice it to say, this is neither a popcorn horror flick nor a heartwarming drama. Set in 1970s New York, Jacob's Ladder deals with the aftermath of one man's experiences in Vietnam. It's a cerebral "mess with your head" kind of film that will likely scare and disturb you. As in the more recent "Memento", plot twists invite continual re-evaluation of what has gone before. What really happened to Jake and his buddies on that fateful day in Vietnam? Has he left his wife for Jez (Elizabeth Pena) or hasn't he? Where is his son Gabe? Are his waking supernatural visions drug-induced hallucinations, PTSD, or something else? The best way to answer these questions is to stop reading (now!) and watch it for yourself a few times. There are many well-considered interpretations below, but most of them will ruin the experience.

A Classic!!!

Beautifully written and great acting. One of the best movies I have ever seen. The Vietnam portion of the film (filmed in Puerto Rico) is haunting. The story is very similar to Carnival of Souls from 1962. Adrian Lyne has created a masterpiece.

Library of Top Ten

Authors main focus was on a major issue and introduced it in an interesting plot whereby the viewer doesn't realize where he's at until the final dramatic scene. The most stunning conclusion I've ever seen. A must watch.

One of the scariest movies I have ever seen

Whoa mama. What a brain-warper. I don't know if you can categorize this movie. Is it an edgy drama? A psychological thriller? A trippy horror flick? A religious film? A government conspiracy film? The rubic's cube structure and baffling ending always leaves me with both an exclamation point and a question mark. But Adrian Lyne's underrated classic has is a kicky ride with a groundbreaking visual style that has been borrowed in lesser films, most recently the new "House on Haunted Hill".

MY DESCENT INTO HELL WITH TIM ROBBINS

This film depicts a Vietnam veteran's post-war descent into hell. His 'hell' basically boils down to his waking up one day to realize he's no longer married to a white woman and raising a white son (a delightful pre-Party Monster MacCauley Culkin) in the suburbs. Instead he's now living with a woman of ambiguous hispanic origin in urban NYC. Hell is different things to different people. Personally my hell occurred back in early 2001 when I drank five cans of Sparks and ate a large batch of some brownies handed to me by frizzy-haired man wearing a pink headband, but thats a story for another time. FOUR STARS.

Great film

If you liked the 6th sense you should like this more eldritch and disturbing film. Some have sniped that this is derivative of the Twilight Zone episode/Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode Occurrence at Owl Creek bridge. But that Ambrose Bierce story carries the germ of Jacob's ladder but the film if considered derivative is a much more fleshed out modern interpretation of that tale.I cannot comment on Carnival of Souls, I have not seen it, but I enjoyed this darker, thoughtful film than the much hailed 6th Sense. 6th Sense was good but its storyline depends more on the twist ending then Jacob's Ladder did.

Proof of an underestimated director's gifts

Director Adrian Lyne has often been subject to criticism for having helmed material thought to be none other than commercial fluff (9 1/2 WEEKS, FATAL ATTRACTION, INDECENT PROPOSAL, FLASHDANCE), despite the enormous integrity his direction has brought to these otherwise maligned films. It's very easy to attack a film's artistry simply because of the audience to whom it appeals, or even its overall success. Because I've always had a great fondness for Lyne's direction, it pleases me to say that I believe JACOB'S LADDER defies the commercial formula for his other films and allows his gifts to be seen for what they are.Lyne's contribution to this highly visceral, extremely frightening metaphysical thriller allowed it steer clear of the more familiar, "awe-inspiring" presentation normally used to adapt screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin's works (BRAINSTORM, GHOST, MY LIFE, among others). By keeping the film's supernatural manifestations grounded in three-dimensional reality, and none-too-visible, the film's impact remains implicit and allows the audience to use its imagination and "find" the fear in the film, so to speak. Because of the suggestive approach, we are allowed to concentrate on the convincing performances, nuances, and merely the threat that these obscured images propose, rather than having it all spelled out for us.Though the $40 million dollar film was actually considered a box-office failure at the time of its release, it has still managed to maintain a dedicated cult following to this day, which perhaps would not have been possible without Lyne's more unpredictable approach. And given the film's beautiful cinematography by action-film lensman Jeffrey Kimball, Maurice Jarre's eerie score, and sincere acting, the film clearly deserves its status as a triumphant cult favorite.People seem to forget that Lyne has not only brought technical credibility to his work (what with gorgeous camerawork and clever editing), he has also managed to motivate his actors to give some of their best performances (this includes actors who were already established, such as Glenn Close in FATAL ATTRACTION, as well as those who were not taken as seriously until working with Lyne, such as Demi Moore in INDECENT PROPOSAL). True, some of the material he has worked with is rather wanting, as things like 9 1/2 WEEKS, FLASHDANCE, FATAL ATTRACTION, and INDECENT PROPOSAL, may have started out as nothing more than big-budget exploitation films, but one cannot deny the respectability that Lyne has brought to them.Lyne is just as noteworthy as his other British commercials-to-Hollywood-transition contemporaries like Ridley and Tony Scott, Alan Parker, and others. The fact that he saved JACOB'S LADDER from becoming a more sensationalistic, OMEN/EXORCIST clone is a testament to that. What remains is a gripping, terrifying, well-acted and directed thriller whose success must be measured by the continual impact the film has to this day, and not by its initially questionable box-office figures.For others out there that have an affinity for this film, as do I, please pick up the loaded DVD Special Edition ASAP! It truly does the film justice.

A Masterpiece

I really would not have expected such a brilliant psychological horror form Adrian Lyne, being more accustomed to his films like "Flashdance", or "9 1/2 Weeks". Tim Robbins brings forth a very powerful character, even surpassing his brilliant performance in "The Shawshank Redemption". The film has a very good, if somewhat suffocating, pace, but the amount of horror and the amount of relief is expertly balanced.
Besides, the film manages to be very disturbing with the use of very little special effects other than make-up and a couple of camera tricks. This, coupled with a very good story, creates a unique atmosphere of horror that is absurdly surreal and painfully realistic at the same time. To put it frankly, I can easily call this the best horror film I have ever watched.

10/10 - much more than horror

Classifying Jacob's Ladder as a horror film was quite a mistake. People who look for a horror movie will be dissatisfied. The ones who would really appreciate this film don't usually consider watching horror movies.This is an artistic (but sometimes horrifying) thriller: its message is layered for patient exploration. The horror of the opening scenes is quickly replaced by a clever military thriller, then it is enriched by parables (yes, Biblical ones) and subplots (like the one about the atavistic male agony between family and freedom.) Finally it gives you "the answer" (for a question you may have not even asked yet.)The more you (and Tim Robbins) look for answers the more you loose your sanity. But this film shows you that there are more important things than your "sanity". If you give up the quest the movie is gone - and you lose much more. If you follow his path you may experience a catharsis that you will probably never forget. This movie may enrich you. It is art in a strange disguise. The experience may serve you as a guide in your life. Just remember when the time comes. (I know what I am talking about: I was an EMT then an ER doctor)I hope I'll remember. I know I will.PS: Indeed, the end of the movie is not totally "original". But what is? Indeed, the story is convoluted. But what else do you expect from a good movie? Indeed,the plot lines sometimes shift, causing intellectual and emotional turmoil in the viewer. But this is what "art" is about! OK, it is not the summit of philosophy or theology, but this is a movie. One of the best ones I have ever seen.

Magical realism

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoy this movie. This movie is a classic vision that often is misinterpreted or plain misunderstood. For those of you that have seen this movie and feel that it was confusing or too hard to follow, get this DVD and watch it again. Especially for the commentary and the additional scenes (for those of you that have this on VHS, if you have a DVD player, trust me...it's worth getting it, solely for the added scenes and the commentary.) Every time that I watch this movie it blows me away. The filming, the lighting, the dialogue. It all combines to form a powerful journey of one man's struggle to decipher reality and illusion. All I can say, is "Phenomenal."