Jacob's Ladder (1990)
- Starring:
- Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña , ( more )
- Director(s):
- Adrian Lyne
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
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, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 116 mins
Complete Cast:
- Tim Robbins - Jacob Singer
- Danny Aiello - Louis
- Ving Rhames - George
- Jason Alexander - Geary
- Patricia Kalember - Sarah
- Brian Tarantina - Doug
- Brent Hinkley - Jerry
- Doug Barron - Group Leader
- John Capodice - Army Officer
- Christopher John Fields
- Gloria Irizarry - Mrs. Carmichael
- Barbara Gruen - Mourner
- Alison Gordy - Hospital Patient
- Ann Pearl Gary - Mourner
- Jessica Roberts - Hospital Patient
- James Ellis Reynolds - E.M.T. Bearer
- Joe Quintero - Street Kid
- Evan O'Meara - Sam
- Chris Murphy
- Alva Williams - Masked Man
- Davidson Thomson - Evil Doctor
- Blanche Irwin Stuart - Hospital Patient
- Kisha Skinner - Street Singer
- Suzanne Shepherd - Hospital Receptionist
- Jan Saint - Santa
- Byron Minns - Orderly
- John Patrick McLaughlin - Army Officer
- A.M. Marxuach - Field Doctor
- Brian Larkin - Jed
- B.J. Donaldson - Eli
- Thomas A. Carlin - Doorman
- Stephanie Berry - Partygoer
- Elizabeth Abassi - Hospital Patient
- Elizabeth Peña - Jezzie
- Matt Craven - Michael
- Pruitt Taylor Vince - Paul
- Macaulay Culkin - Gabe
- Eriq La Salle - Frank
- Anthony Alessandro - Rod
- Dennis Green - Attendant
- Lewis Black - Jacob's Doctor
- Scott Cohen - Resident Doctor
- Diane Kagan - Nurse
- Brad Hamlet
- John-Martin Green - Partygoer
- Kyle Gass - Tony
- John Louis Fischer - Machine Gunner
- Arleigh Richards - Paul's Wife
- Antonia Rey - Woman on Subway
- Jaime Perry - Field Medic
- Billie Neal - Della
- Perry Lang - Jacob's Assailant
- Michael Tomlinson - Field Doctor
- Raymond Anthony Thomas - Policeman
- Mike Stokie - Field Sergeant
- Dion Simmons - Street Singer
- Carol Schneider - Nurse
- Patty Rosborough - Drunk
- S. Epatha Merkerson - Elsa
- Reggie Mc Fadden - Partygoer
- Bellina Logan - Emergency Ward Nurse
- Holly Kennedy - Hospital Patient
- Sam Coppola - Taxi Driver
- Nora Burns - Hospital Patient
- Becky Ann Baker - Nurse
- Director(s):
- Adrian Lyne
- Writer(s):
- Bruce Joel Rubin, Joel Blasberg
- Producer(s):
- Bruce Joel Rubin, Alan Marshall
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Nudity, Adult Language, Adult Situations, Graphic Violence, Violence, Profanity, Not For Children)
- Categories:
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
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