Very boring. Nothing is clear except we know nothing the protagonist sees is real. The problem is there's no progression. It's just a long psychotic episode.

Masterfully shot and executed film

This movie was good. I like the style and the scenes. The demons were done really well. It leaves you thinking at the end to a certain extent.

A typical, restrained suspense movie from the nineties, influenced by Blade Runner, but with a message and form that is not the norm. The entire runtime of the movie, the structure is so jumbled it is hard to follow, and that is by design. We're literally experiencing the halucinations as Jacob is experiencing them. The flashbacks are then not flashbacks as they are part of the same narrative that's moving forward. It doesn't have to make sense, because it doesn't make sense for Jacob. I kept looking for logic within it and kept wondering if there was not some extraneous force that was causing Jacob's struggle. Yes there was, but not in the way in imagined it. I thought his girlfriend was really a witch and this was some retelling of Rosemary's Baby. In a way, kind of, but not entirely so. Nothing in this movie is true and yet all of it is true. As Dumbledore once said: "Of course it is happening inside your head, [...] but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?". At first I was annoyed at the ending, it didn't make sense to end with Jacob dying in a tent after the halucinogenic episode he experienced by the experimental drugs. But now that I am writing this, I am liking the movie more. Because now, I have to question everything the movie showed me. If this drug made a person go to his deepest, rawest self, pure fear, then Jacob's biggest fear was losing his son, Gabe (Macauley Culkin, so tiny). But it also shows him things that he has imagined, but not acted upon because as a human he is moral (being together with Jezebel, which he told his wife Sarah happened in a dream). It's a really inventive movie and it's not perfect, but I like the way how it handled the narrative, structure and plot to tackle Jacob's experience.

while all of the acting was done quite well, the script is convoluted and the movie takes too long to get to the point. in my opinion, the ending was the weakest point given all of the buildup, but it still felt immensely vague. i don't think it was clearly determined whether the events of the film were a dream or a hallucination, or which were definitely real. its just a very convoluted film in the wrong ways, and i felt that it wasted my time with the promise of horrific special effects or an eerie atmosphere that never truly showed up. i can understand if people like this as a cult classic or something, but it's simply overrated and runs on for too long. there are zero "trippy" visuals despite what some other viewers might lead you to believe, and only a little gore in one or two scenes.

Jacob's Ladder (1990), directed by Adrian Lyne, is a haunting and unforgettable journey into the darkest recesses of the human psyche. Combining chilling horror, gripping suspense, and emotional depth, this film is a must-watch for fans of the genre and anyone who appreciates complex storytelling. Tim Robbins delivers a career-defining performance as Jacob Singer, a Vietnam veteran grappling with harrowing flashbacks, surreal visions, and a spiraling sense of reality. Robbins' portrayal is deeply affecting, capturing the anguish, confusion, and vulnerability of a man caught between the physical world and something far more terrifying. The film's narrative structure is disorienting in the best possible way, mirroring Jacob's fractured mental state. As the lines between reality, hallucination, and memory blur, the audience is drawn into a nightmarish world where nothing is as it seems. The unsettling imagery-creeping shadows, distorted faces, and hellish dreamscapes-is as unnerving as it is visually stunning, creating an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. Beyond its chilling visuals, Jacob's Ladder is also a deeply emotional film that explores themes of trauma, guilt, and redemption. The story's layers gradually peel back to reveal a poignant and devastating truth, making the final moments both heartbreaking and cathartic. Maurice Jarre's haunting score enhances the film's mood, weaving a sense of melancholy and foreboding that perfectly complements the visuals. Lyne's direction is masterful, balancing psychological terror with emotional resonance to create a film that is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. Final Thoughts: Jacob's Ladder is a tour de force of psychological horror and suspense. With its powerful performances, stunning visuals, and deeply emotional core, it stands as one of the most unique and impactful films of its kind. A true classic that rewards multiple viewings, this is a film that stays with you long after the lights come up. Rating: 9/10 A chilling, emotionally charged masterpiece that is a must-watch for any fan of horror or suspense.

Trippy. Keeps you on the edge of your seat, but you’re not really sure why. The atmosphere is amazing and creepy. I loved the performance from Pruitt Taylor Vince even though he only had like 7 minutes of screentime. The ending comes off as a little cheap in our modern moviegoer mindset, but 34 years ago it would have been seriously stunning.

One of the best psychological horror films. Tim Robbins is superb in this film and even now 34 years later it’s a must see.

One of the best movies out there, It's what inspired Silent Hill

It's a man, lost in a state of delirium, fighting with angles and going though hell, a hell made by himself. And trying to escape this hellish delusion only sinks you deeper into it. The film perfectly demonstrates a psychological hell, with creatures only imaginable in an evil world (and yet they are not evil!). This made this film one of the most influential films of the 90s, influencing the famous Silent Hill series. And even though it's not the best, but still blurs the line between real and unreal. Still the story could be much better. There are many logical contradictions, which is impossible even in an illogical psychological state. The worst part is actually the ending! The ending is not at all compatible with the rest of the story. There are also some illogical elements that can be considered as the illogicality of the delusion. As for the cinematography, considering that it's made in 90s, we can say Jeffrey L. Kimball did a great job. I absolutely love the special effects and specially the rapid head movements. And the acting of Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Peña are adorable. We deeply feel Jacob's fear and confusion and Jezzie's compassion and concern. And as for the ending text, it's a perfect example of how a movie can claim to be real, when even the director says it's not. There are reports of some secret tests in the Vietnam War, but the use of BZ is never documented. As Adrian Lyne says, he was inspired by Martin A. Lee's book Acid Dreams: The CIA, LSD and Sixties Rebellion, but "nothing in the book suggests that the drug BZ was used on U.S. troops."

I've seen "Jacob's Ladder" endless of times. When in my 20s (when the movie hit theaters), the creepiness, violence and gore was what attracted me. Over the years I've come to appreciate it even more and become less aware of its violence and gore, and more aware of the truly sad story of Jacob Singer, a Nam war vet who apparently returns home to his girlfriend and to his job as a mailman, despite having a Phd in philosophy. At first, the audience might be put off by the endless flashbacks to the war and the dreams within dreams. Trying to put the puzzle together will not be easy at first, but once you nail it, you"ll discover how terrible is war, marriage break up and the loss of your dearest son, which few reviewers fail to put much importance to this side of the story (it's pivotal). Adrian Lyne was spot on perfect, going almost Kubrick with his way of story telling, and Tim Robbins performance as Jacob Singer is an robbed academy award nomination. Too bad the movie still has a way to go to earn the respect like "The Shining" or other films that were panned upon release. Jacob's Ladder is an absolute must-see!

10/10 100/100 This film is a legendary work.

This will mess with your mind heavily, not for the faint hearted, one of the best films out there for people who wish to take themselfes to the next level when it comes to psychological thrillers.

This is an incredibly intelligent movie that I think paved the way for future artists and the psychological horror genre as a whole. Underneath the conspiratorial ideas and real world connections that do actually heighten the movie in certain ways - there is an incredibly good story about a man being swayed different directions of demons and angels. The struggles Jacob faces, and the way the story goes makes this movie an amazing character study. I could write a whole 6 page essay about this movie, but for the sake of not going on too long about this review, I truly consider this movie as a masterpiece.

(Spoilers) Effective fantasy thriller/mystery from Adrian Lyne: that's unfortunately vanished into the mists of obscurity over the years...As no one really remembers this one anymore. Which is unfair; because it's a very good movie... It examines the mental deterioration of a Vietnam Veteran; one Jacob Singer; years after he returns home...Or so it seems..It turns out he never actually escaped in Viet Nam...He died in Viet Nam. (As we see in a shocking flashback at the end of the movie...)And just like with The Twilight Zone's Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge; it becomes apparent that the young victim of war imagines an elaborate escape and afterlife which never even happened!!.. And yes ...The ending falls under that annoying subheading; "It was all a dream"; which is usually a HORRIBLE way to end a movie...Except in THIS case it works.. Because whereas usually "It's all only a dream" is a cutesy cop-out so that the protagonist doesn't have to deal with all the implications of the tragedy that just came before it...In THIS case; the "it's only a dream" just ADDS to the horror and the heartache. Not only did Jacob's middle aged life with his family in New York end badly...It never even happened in the first place. OUCH!! How painful is that?!! It was all just a deathbed hallucination... It's like the final insult and fatal wounding in a torture chamber...(This movie and Inception are the only movies where that ending works...) Or...That's ONE explanation...That it's all a dream...Another explanation is we see the mental breakdown of this Tim Robbins/Jacob character years after his horrible Viet Nam experience...Who SPIRITUALLY died in Viet Nam; he lost his head and soul back there...The death we're seeing at that MASH is a metaphorical death; not a real one; but it shows how his spirit was broken during the war...which led to his deterioration later on...So Lyne leaves room for interpretation. The movie also moves back and forth between competing present day narratives; until the whole thing just explodes in the ending. Overall this is a very moody and effective tale. Thumbs up 👍 P.S. "Jacob's Ladder" has become a catch phrase in our culture; and has been used to describe natural wonders of the world; movies; and even exercise equipment. ORIGINALLY it was a Biblical term; which describes the character Jacob from the Bible, (aka Israel); having a dream or an epiphany about a divine portal to Heaven... So that's the fountainhead for all these other terms and concepts!

One of the first great twist horror movies in my opinion. Loved how it played out

always fascinating to see movies that deal with our fear of death and what lies beyond. but this is quite the nightmare that I would not want to watch again.

A story of PTSD with a predictable ending. To be honest after a while you know what is going to happen so you start to lose interest. Tim Robbins if phenomenal though.

I could not watch this after the first scene. Emotionally disturbing. Reminded me of Clock Work Orange type of movie. Was it drugs, hallucinations, or dreams? Robbins other movies are better. This was a tough watch. Maybe other people like this type of movie. Fine by me. Not my cup of tea. Cheers.

An essential film for both 'Silent Hill 2' fans and just fans of Psychological Horror in general. Very confronting, disturbing and depressing.