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Jacob's Ladder (1990)

Jacob's Ladder (1990)
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A tortured man finds himself caught in a middle-ground between hallucination and reality in this supernatural thriller, scripted by Bruce Joel Rubin of Ghost (1990) and My Life (1993).
Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son (Macaulay Culkin). Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena), after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis (Danny Aiello), a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember), fellow Vietnam vet Paul (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and enigmatic stranger Michael (Matt Craven) all try to help the tortured soul. Jason Alexander, Ving Rhames and Eriq LaSalle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Tim RobbinsElizabeth Peña, (more)
Director(s):
Adrian Lyne
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray
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Synopsis of Jacob's Ladder

A tortured man finds himself caught in a middle-ground between hallucination and reality in this supernatural thriller, scripted by Bruce Joel Rubin of Ghost (1990) and My Life (1993).
Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son (Macaulay Culkin). Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena), after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis (Danny Aiello), a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember), fellow Vietnam vet Paul (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and enigmatic stranger Michael (Matt Craven) all try to help the tortured soul. Jason Alexander, Ving Rhames and Eriq LaSalle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
116 mins

Complete Cast of Jacob's Ladder


Director(s):
Adrian Lyne
Writer(s):
Bruce Joel RubinJoel Blasberg
Producer(s):
Bruce Joel RubinAlan Marshall
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Profanity, Not For Children, Nudity, Adult Language, Violence)
Categories:
Mystery & Suspense
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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    Member Reviews
     
    Andrea P.

    What constitues reality in this gripping drama? Is Jacob, a returning Vietnam vet, mad? Suffering hallucinogenic flashbacks? Dreaming? Or is there some intricate government conspiracy that only he and a handful of others suspect? Demons can't really be chasing him, now -- can they? (And what do these demons represent?) Trying to figure this all out makes "Jacob's Ladder" quite the interesting puzzle. If, at the end, you're still unsure, watch the docu-mentary, which explains all to great satisfaction; absolutely no cop-outs here. The actors (particularly Tim Robbins and Danny Aiello) are totally engaging and the plot, entirely plausible (strange to say). The gruesome special effects fall, mercifully, just short of overkill. In the hands of another director, this film might have been laughable. In the hands of Adrian Lyne, it is a wonderful achievement.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Robert P.

    A really intelligent thought provoking thriller. Not really supernatural and no good vs evil god vs satan nonsense that we've seen over and over. Well played and scripted.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Jimmy J.

    I'm gonna get it somehow. Somehow I'm gonna get itttt!!! Get it!

    Yes   |   No

     
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