Jacob's Ladder

Name: Jacob's Ladder
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: November 2, 1990
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Tim Robbins

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 207 Ratings

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4.4

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4.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 207 Ratings

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Jacob's Ladder

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: November 2, 1990 | R

Starring: Tim Robbins

Summary: The life of a traumatized Vietnam vet. begins to unravel as the line between reality and nightmarish visions becomes blurred.

Director: Adrian Lyne

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

David Sterritt

Tim Robbins gives a strong performance in this first-class horror yarn, which has a surprisingly strong political edge. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The ending of Jacob's Ladder, when it finally arrives, is, like much of the film, both quaint and devastating. Read full review

James Berardinelli

I wouldn't go so far as to classify Jacob's Ladder as a masterpiece, but it is smart and compelling and unquestionably worth a first or second look. Read full review

Desson Howe

True to his resume, director Lyne produces a frenetic battery of visceral images, ominous music and that ol' faithful standby, the eerie background chorus. To give Lyne his relentless due, this does make for some heart-thumping moments. But it also causes Ladder to fall ultimately flat on its surrealistic face, the victim of too many fake-art sequences. Read full review

Jay Carr

The strength of Jacob's Ladder is that we never know what the next scene will be. But that's also its weakness. We don't feel involved with the characters here. We just feel jerked around. Jacob's Ladder, finally, is bummer theater. [2 Nov 1990, p.73]

Julie Salamon

As a metaphysical exploration of otherworldliness, Jacob's Ladder has a kind of morbid intensity, for those who like that sort of thing. The picture flounders, however, with its insistence on injecting a little politics into the paranormal brew. [1Nov 1990, p.A20]

Staff (Not Credited)

Director Adrian Lyne has encapsulated the cliches of three decades in a single dreadful and hysterical movie. Read full review

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User Reviews

Caesar753BC

May 10, 2023

One of the best psychological thrillers of the 1990’s. Beautiful & haunting, at the same time. A must watch.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Boffboff

Jun 21, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you think its about flashback caused by the war YOU ARE WRONG! If you think this movie is about paranoia, YOU ARE WRONG ! The movie is about the human mind ! the story examines the undetermined mystery of death. in my opinion jacob's ladder was the prototype for movies like "the matrix", "stay" or "the 13th floor".
If you are searching for an simple horror movie or thriller then you you shouldn't watch jacob's ladder. The movie is even more complex than the most of you might think. Plz don't rate this movie if you don't get the (real) conclusion.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

marcmyworks

Sep 8, 2019

Jacob's Ladder is one of those fever dream type films where it's sometimes impossible to tell what's real and what isn't. The sheer viserial nature of the gore and commentary on PTSD can be a bit overwhelming but this certainly is a well-made film with superb acting.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Feb 28, 2014

Wow, so my brain is mush. Right when you think it cannot get weirder, it absolutely shocks you and does exactly that. One of the things this film does really film is not just confuse you, but make you feel as though you are experiencing what Jacob is experiencing. The bizzare things he seesWow, so my brain is mush. Right when you think it cannot get weirder, it absolutely shocks you and does exactly that. One of the things this film does really film is not just confuse you, but make you feel as though you are experiencing what Jacob is experiencing. The bizzare things he sees suddenly effect you as though it is happening to you. I also really loved the religious imagery and how it ties into the film so neatly and adds a true metaphysical spin to this story. This is undoubtedly one that you will have to watch twice to truly understand and see all the signs pointing to the ending. I always thought that films such as A Clockwork Orange or Requiem for a Dream would be the most jarring and flat out...just what films I would ever watch, but no, this one takes the crown. It is also a tough one to write a review on since I do not want to give anything away. Just make sure that if you have time and the opportunity is presented that you watch this one. It will mess with you in ways you never anticipated.

One complaint I have is that it sort of went over the top at times. Once you know what angle they were trying to play, some scenes almost feel as though they are excess with the sole goal of further terrifying the viewer and not necessarily progressing much.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

A surprisingly effective atmospheric thriller whose visual artistry has influenced the horror genre both in movies (Asian horror) and video games (Silent Hill, definitely). Still, the pacing of the movie is a bit off, as there are parts that I felt could have been left out, and I didn'tA surprisingly effective atmospheric thriller whose visual artistry has influenced the horror genre both in movies (Asian horror) and video games (Silent Hill, definitely). Still, the pacing of the movie is a bit off, as there are parts that I felt could have been left out, and I didn't think Tim Robbins was a good choice for the role. On top of that, I pretty much predicted the ending before even watching, but luckily the director was smart enough not to make it a blatant twist, but rather braces the viewer for the revelation, suggesting it throughout the movie (a rare case for thrillers) Also, wtf - Jason Alexander and Macauly Culkin?… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Panchogul

Jul 18, 2020

Vine a ver esta película porque leí que la franquicia de Silent Hill agarró inspiración de Jacob's Ladder y quería comprobarlo, son obvias las referencias del videojuego hacia esta película, la cual me resultó un poco confusa y turbia, pero valió la pena, bastante buena.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Broyax

Jan 25, 2017

Un film sur la guerre du Vietnam et la folie, l'angoisse et le deuil... entre autres. D'excellentes idées dans cette histoire mais on ne s'en rend compte qu'à la fin, une fois que le scénario a fini de brouiller les pistes. Non pas qu'on lui en veuille, car c'est justement tout l'intérêtUn film sur la guerre du Vietnam et la folie, l'angoisse et le deuil... entre autres. D'excellentes idées dans cette histoire mais on ne s'en rend compte qu'à la fin, une fois que le scénario a fini de brouiller les pistes. Non pas qu'on lui en veuille, car c'est justement tout l'intérêt d'égarer le spectateur en conjectures...

Mais -et le mais est rédhibitoire- putain que c'est laborieux pour en arriver là ! la narration est d'une lenteur terrible -en dépit de la prestation de Tim Robbins- qui entraîne de nombreux décrochages de l'attention, caractérisés par des baillements inopinés... Malgré cette histoire originale et presque poétique, la réalisation bancale d'Adrian Lynne, son apathie, débouche sur un film raté mais encore à peu près regardable pour qui en a la patience.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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