Jacob’s Ladder
Mine is not the only review you’ll see mentioning this movie in the same breath as Angel Heart. The similarities really only exist in terms of the surprises and shock value of these movies, but that’s sure as hell good enough for me. And, hey, I had this flick on hand, so what more reason could I need?
Premise – 4/5
Sure, the neighborhood may not look like much, but at least it's cheap.
Let the good times roll! Okay, maybe this film isn’t exactly what you could call “good times,” being a hallucinatory and disturbing trip through the apparently unravelling mind of Jacob Singer. Singer’s a Vietnam vet who was critically injured in the war, but oddly enough can’t remember too much of what happened the night he was gutted by a bayonet. He was discharged about five or six years ago, and his stomach wasn’t the only injury he suffered. He’s got a good deal of psychological trauma and emotional disconnection, having left his ex-wife and two surviving children (his third was killed in an accident before Jacob went to Vietnam). He’s also thrown away his Ph.D., opting for a small-time job as a postal worker: “After the war, I just didn’t want to think anymore,” he explains to his girlfriend Jezzie (obviously, short for Jezebel). Outside of a surreal experience on the subway home from work, things seem to be going well for him in his new life, until one of his children, Eli, comes around to drop off some pictures that his ex-wife was just going to throw out. In particular, the only remaining snapshot of his son Gabe (the one who died in the accident) has an enormous impact on him. From this point on, the movie becomes one hell of a trip in search for answers about the nature of reality, memory, life, death, and the question of what these demons plaguing Jacob really are. To say much more than that is, again, to spoil some of the best moments in the movie.
Cast – 3/5
Tim Robbins plays Jacob Singer, and does an incredible job of portraying the enormous range of emotions that the story requires of him. You really do care about his character all the way through, even when you can’t be sure what’s happening to him, and your heart sinks with every new setback or horror that befalls him. Sometimes he comes off as insane, or stupid, but you just can’t dislike him even then. He’s a remarkable actor, and really gives this character life.
There aren’t too many supporting characters who get much screen time, but of note are Elizabeth Pena who plays Jezzy, and Danny Aiello who plays Jacob’s compassionate chiropractor. Jezzy’s role is definitely an interesting one, often calling her to hint towards hidden depths very subtly. She pulls off creepiness, vulnerability, fiery, and, of course, hella sexy. She does a great job as Jacob’s possible last pillar of support. Aiello also does a good job as Louis, and brings a wonderful serenity and empathy to the character. Unfortunately, he’s clearly painted way too early in the movie, and doesn’t get a chance to really make you wonder about who he is and what his part in the story will be, like everyone else does.
Unfortunately, most of the bit parts are kind of trivial. There’s a lot of people who just don’t really matter introduced in the story, and as interesting as they might be, leave the movie too soon to be much use. Because of the trivial nature of some of these, the cast only gets an average rating from me.
Cinematography & Design – 4/5
This movie is undoubtedly one of the most finely-tuned psychological creep-outs that I’ve ever seen. Everything has a run-down look about it, and most of the scenes are dark or overcast. Make no mistake, this is one dark movie, literally and figuratively. Underneath this darkness, though, is still a veneer of normal, if slummy, life, which makes the flawless transitions to things both heavenly and hellish all the more striking.
Of specially noteworthy praise is the hospital scene later in the movie, which starts off with Jacob being taken to the ER and then turns into a nightmare ride through disgusting hallways to hell. How disturbing this scene is really needs to be seen to be believed. The only thing that comes close to this is the subway ride that starts the movie off. Wonderfully freaky stuff. No wonder it was such an inspiration to the Silent Hill series.
Special Effects – 3/5
They certainly get the job done! This movie just would not be the same without making the most of its bloody nightmare freaks. Maybe I’m jaded, but the super-fast-motion head shaking and blur kind of annoys me. I feel like I’ve seen that exact same effect a hundred times, although, to be fair, it could have originated with this movie. There are plenty of wonderfully creepy visuals all throughout, and some very choice uses of make-up. This category’s good, but didn’t exactly raise the bar.
Popcorn Factor – 2/5
I’m gonna tell you straight up: this is not a fun movie, so if you’re just looking for entertainment, you should probably look elsewhere. It’s a bleak, desperate, and very unsettling film that slowly peels away any easy answers to the questions it raises. Very much to its credit, it’s the kind of movie that will likely keep you thinking about it long after the credits roll. And it certainly has a “replay value,” as repeated viewings will give you a different perspective each time. It’s a thinking-man’s horror movie, and that’s decidedly rare.
Unfortunately, what this movie lacks, at least in my mind, is a definitive climax. Nothing in this movie is meant to be “definitive,” that’s not what I mean. If anything, the ending tries to wrap it all up in one neat little package way more than it should. That is what annoys me. The excellent building up of suspense and uncertainty throughout the movie really don’t seem to stack up with the almost-rushed way that it ends. I’ve heard that the DVD release of this movie has something like three deleted scenes that sound like just what I’m asking for, but since all I’ve got is the VHS version, I feel like I got sold an unfinished product. Still, what a product it is!