Jacob's Ladder

                 I really love horror; I think that should be pretty obvious at this point. I think it’s an incredibly elastic genre that can be paired with other genres more easily than most. The horror genre can also be a great tool to discuss difficult subjects like generational trauma (The Haunting of Hill House), grief (The Babadook), or even dementia (Relic, The Taking of Deborah Logan). In the case of Jacob’s Ladder, it’s an incredibly moving exploration of PTSD and the inhumanity of war (the Vietnam War, specifically).

Jacob’s Ladder was written by Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost), directed by Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction), and was released on November 2nd, 1990. Jacob’s Ladder was made on a budget of $25 million, made $7,500,760 upon opening, and went on to make $26,118,851 worldwide. Jacob’s Ladder received mixed reviews upon release, but has gone on to be considered a cult classic.

Jacob’s Ladder features Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins, The Shawshank Redemption), a Vietnam veteran who is struggling to recover from his experiences in the war. He lives with his girlfriend Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña, The Incredibles) and has a frosty relationship with his ex-wife (Patricia Kalember, Sisters). Jacob begins experiencing horrible visions (which he later learns are shared by fellow members of his unit) that he suspects are the results of military experimentation. 

Going into this film I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I knew that the plot involved a Vietnam veteran, but not much else. I was pleased to find how good a film this was. Robbins and Peña are both excellent, as are Rubin’s script and Lyne’s direction. The sensitivity with which the subject matter is presented is laudable.

The journey we take with Jacob is alternatively thrilling, terrifying, and depressing. The audience is invited to partake in Jacob’s paranoia and terror, unable to distinguish what is real and what isn’t.

Not everything worked though. I wasn’t a fan of the usage of the “scary asylum” trope. It’s usage isn’t surprising for either the period when the film was set or when it was made, but it was frustrating to see the protagonist’s mental health taken seriously while simultaneously using the mental health and physical disabilities of extras for rather cheap jump scares. I’m also torn on the twist ending. While I typically hate “it was all a dream” endings (or in this case, a dying dream), it seems appropriate thematically to the film.

Ultimately, Jacob’s Ladder is an excellent and horrifying exploration of PTSD. It’s a heavy film so I encourage you to go in prepared.

Rating: 4.5 biblical allusions out of 5

Other Observations:

• Does the Dog Die? Honestly, I can’t remember. Doesthedogdie.com is telling me yes. Sorry.

• Harrison’s Favorite Scare: There’s a very brief moment when Jezzie is talking to Jacob and her eyes turn completely black. It’s brief but it’s effective. 

Next Week: Stepping away from movies for a week to discuss the video game Alien: Isolation.