terrible... so disappointed.

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

"Jacobs Ladder" (1990) is a dramatic horror mystery told from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran named Jacob Singer, played by Tim Robbins, as he tries to navigate his life through the physical representation of his inner demons. This film is freakishly well put together and keeps the viewer guessing how it will conclude through all of Jacob's dissociation. He lives with his girlfriend Jezzie, played by Elizabeth Peña, who tries to help him cope with life and the loss of his son Gabe, played by Macaulay Culkin. This film practices the art of multi-story sequencing in that Jacob has several stories within his main story which I truly appreciate. It forces the viewer to pay attention so as not to miss pertinent information.For a film made in the early 90s, Adrian Lyne did a marvelous job with the pacing. Still there were some areas that dragged on or could have been omitted all together. However, I feel back then the audience needed those moments for the emotional connection to Jacob. The point of this film can be taken in more than one way, but the strongest of those is shedding light on what the U.S. government did to their own soldiers. Though the payoff was very expected, due to the trailer, it was still sadly fulfilling. This film was on my bucket list for a long time and now having viewed it, I am happy I did. I recommend this film to all who enjoy films that have a purpose and force you to think but skip the trailer.

This is the first review that I write on IMDb, just for the fact that this is a terribly underrated film, and I couldn't believe that this film scored just a 7.5/10 while films such as The Sixth Sense scored a 8.1/10Jacob's Ladder kept me at the edge of my seat all the time, not knowing what to expect next. This film embodies the core principles of the psychological thriller genre, you don't know if the protagonist is just suffering from PTSD, if is something going wrong for real, if his in hell or something like that, what is real and what is in his mind.The acting of Tim Robbins in this film is really outstanding, you can feel the fear and the pain of the protagonist through the film with each dialog, with each scene, you just want him to have some peace. The movie throws at you many symbolisms, making you guess what's going on.If you like the Silent Hill game sage (which is heavily influenced by this film) you're going to love this film.If you like psychological thrillers but you hate when the plot is really obvious or the plot twist is just a slap on your face, be sure that this isn't that kind of film.Not gonna lie you, the ending can make you feel a little empty, but if you're watching a psychological thriller you're not in for the happy ending.This film is twice as good when you watch it a second time, because you can tie all loose ends and all the symbolisms through the movie. Hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Although a definite case of "style over substance", Adrian Lyne's movie is nonetheless powerful and compelling viewing, although overlong and a little slow in parts. Halfway through the movie walks a fine line between being irritating and being profound before finally falling in the latter camp. It charts the turmoil-filled life of Tim Robbins, a postal worker who is plagued by paranoia and hideous nightmares. His descent into madness and despair is a difficult one to watch, thanks to the strong characterisation and good acting on Robbins' part, although the shock-twist ending (which will be familiar to any viewer in this post-SIXTH SENSE world) is both brilliant and infuriating in equal measure.Horror fans seeking some real chills rather than the standard bloody carnage (although there are some brief, horrifying glimpses of that in the Vietnam flashbacks) will no doubt be pleased with the numerous disorientating, highly disturbing visuals that this film has. These mainly take the form of the "demons" which Robbins sees forever chasing and trying to kill him; their heads shake in a super-fast motion (like in the HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL remake) thanks to some nifty special effects apparently done there and then on set. These "demons" surpass even the ones in the same year's GHOST in terms of weirdness and sheer scariness and are definitely a highlight of the movie.Other scenes to watch out for include a disturbing party scene in which strobe lighting is used to great effect; and the film's major, prolonged sequence in which Robbins is wheeled from a brightly-lit hospital into the very depths of Hell. Great, scary stuff. Something most reviewers fail to mention are also the effective on-the-street locations that this film has, as Robbins spends most of his time with the down-and-outs on the dirty, rubbish-strewn streets of New York. At one point he gets his wallet snatched by a guy dressed as Santa! Burnt-out cars and graffiti populate Robbins' surroundings giving the film a very depressing, downbeat feel.The acting is pretty great all round, with Robbins giving it his all as Jacob in the role that possibly geared him towards movie stardom. The underrated Elizabeth Pena is also great as the sympathetic, charming girlfriend, and Danny Aiello is excellent in his cameo as Louis, a doctor with unconventional methods. Even the presence of a pre-stardom Macaulay Culkin can't negate the quality acting of the rest of the cast. The conspiracy angle of the film is handled nicely, when Robbins meets up with his former war buddies only to find them mysteriously "silenced". Varying wildly between intense and sombre moods, the film's conclusion is one which had me in tears, which not many films have the power to do these days. JACOB'S LADDER comes highly recommended, but be prepared to concentrate at all moments and stick with it, as it's by no means an easy film to watch.

Jacob's Ladder is a very rare psychological exploration of the human mind under extreme stress. A film that gets under your skin and stays with you for years after watching it. What's the secret formula? How were the creators able to accomplish such a smart movie that touches you to the bottom of your soul? I strongly believe the subliminal messages conveyed through very abstract and surreal imagery, as well as juxtaposing specific emotional moods - was what made it so impactful. The story itself is very moving and not for the light hearted. Can't really label it as a horror, thriller, or a drama. It's so unique that it deserves its own category: perhaps something like: Melancholic Horror. The story arc is poetic and the cinematography is extremely immersive. Not many other works came close to achieving this same sense of perpetual thought and reflection. Definitely a classic to be watched by the generations.