Review of Jacob`s Ladder

Introduction

Occasionally, I have a hankering for a film that will challenge my thought processes, break barriers and challenge my preconceptions. Stories that twist and turn, imagery that shocks and subverts, basically I like films that screw with my head. I could be more vividly descriptive if profane but I assume that you have the idea by now. When Jacob`s Ladder was released in 1990, it became one of my must see movies. But as it is with things that you must do, some of them fall by the wayside, and it`s only recently, when Jacob`s Ladder fell on my doormat that I have happily had my head messed with once more.

Jacob Singer is a Vietnam veteran who has trouble coming to terms with his combat experiences and can`t fit back into his normal life in New York. Despite his doctorate, he has taken a mind-numbing job in the postal service and has left his wife and two sons for his girlfriend Jezzie. He is plagued by flashbacks to the hell of Vietnam and also the memory of his youngest son Gabe who was killed years before. When he starts seeing grotesque faces and demonic images though, he comes to believe that there is more to his war experiences than he gave credit to. When his doctor, and fellow veteran Paul are both killed in car accidents, he begins to suspect that the government are covering up something that happened to his battalion in Vietnam. As he tries to uncover the truth of what happened to him, his reality and perceptions begin to distort more and more.

Video

Jacob`s Ladder is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Despite that, it is a disappointing transfer, prone to macro blocking, ghosting and other artefacts. Whenever there is a dusty, hazy or dark scene, the image is particularly affected, and since the opening scene is one of dusty combat in Vietnam, the problems with the transfer are instantly made obvious. It is a shame as the film itself is in good condition, with hardly any print damage or similar signs of aging. The cinematography is both economic and vibrant, with the Director Adrian Lyne using some powerful imagery to convey the story. Mustn`t forget, Warning: This film contains Strobe Lighting.

Audio

The sound on the other hand is excellent. You get a choice of DD 5.1 English, DD 2.0 German Stereo and DD Spanish mono. The surround is remarkably effective, with every opportunity taken to convey the atmosphere and action. The subject matter is chilling and unsettling and the soundstage is used successfully to engender those feelings in the viewer. Whether it is the explosive action of Vietnam or the distorted perceptions that haunt Jacob, all this is powerfully reproduced on this disc. If that isn`t enough, there is the evocative and potent music from Maurice Jarre.

Features

Animated menu, Theatrical Trailer, 20 Chapter Stops, Plethora of subtitles.

Conclusion

How to sum up this movie? It would be easy to dump it in the Horror genre and be done with it, but that would be doing Jacob`s Ladder a disservice. While it is fair to say that much of the imagery in this film is horrific, with the images that haunt Jacob Singer quite harrowing and unsettling, the story is much more than your average fear fest. The story never shocks for the sake of it, but only in the context of Jacob`s experiences. When the first grotesques appear, it can be put down to the Vietnam flashbacks, and as the imagery becomes more demonic and insane, it can be seen in the light of the government conspiracy that Jacob suspects.

Tim Robbins gives a powerful and controlled performance as Jacob Singer and makes the film his own. His reactions to the events seem plausible and he grounds the film in a reality that draws in the audience and keeps us hooked. Elizabeth Peňa gives strong support and a solid performance as Jezzie. Danny Aiello is excellent as Jacob`s chiropractor Louis and he creates an optimistic and entertaining character that debates philosophy with Jacob as he works on his back. His lighter moments contrast well with the unsettling heart of the film. Also in this film are Eriq La Salle, Ving Rhames and an uncredited Macaulay Culkin.

What really makes a scary film work is if it`s rooted in reality. The best way to do that is to look for iconography that affects us all at some visceral level. Religious iconography can be guaranteed to provide a few chills if done right, and it certainly made the Omen work well. In Jacob`s Ladder the demonic imagery is used to excellent effect to unsettle and shock the audience. All this is interspersed with Jacob`s normal life, flashbacks and imaginings. It`s done in small doses that have the cumulative effect of being unnerving and unsettling. The imagery is timed as to twist and change when you least expect it and have the greatest effect.

However the bottom line is that I wish I had seen this film back in the cinema, and not just because of the poor quality visuals. Right now, as a cinema culture we are used to every second film having twists and turns. We expect the unexpected and are let down when a story doesn`t throw up a surprise or two. This wasn`t the case in 1990, and had I watched this film then, the ending might have taken me by surprise. Alas, watching it yesterday I saw the surprise ending signposted half an hour into the film, and was in no way shocked at the turn up for the books. But I`ll tell you one thing, it certainly proves that there are no new ideas in movies, just new ways of showing them. But if you like your chills to be cerebral and don`t mind having your head messed with, then Jacob`s Ladder is just the ticket. A powerful drama with jarring imagery that will make you glad that you watched it. The picture quality is bad enough to make me knock a point of the overall mark, and this is definitely the kind of film that demands extras. Clear some space in your life to watch this film.