Jacob's Ladder

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1:47

Jacob's Ladder

R

1990

1h 53m

Horror

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.

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Critics Consensus

Even with its disorienting leaps of logic and structure, Jacob's Ladder is an engrossing, nerve-shattering experience.

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John Hartl

Seattle Times

08/23/2014

4/4

For hours and days after you've seen it, you'll still be putting it together in your head. While all of it is gripping, it doesn't come together until the final scene, which is jolting, transcendent, unexpected yet inevitable.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

08/23/2014

3/4

As long as the movie refuses to commit itself, it is a truly creepy, nerve-jangling experience.

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

08/23/2014

In the best puzzle movies, the pieces fit -- eventually. But if you try to piece together Jacob's Ladder, all you get for your trouble is more pieces.

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Jim Emerson

Orange County Register

Feb 4

In the end, there's previous little solid ground for this "Ladder" to rest upon.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

09/22/2023

4/5

Manages to deliver nightmarish imagery, psychological torment, and a gripping relationship drama all wrapped up in a frightening and mysterious package.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

12/01/2022

This is gibberish. [Full review in Spanish]

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Jason H

@RT50328122 2d

An excellent movie that I rarely watch. It depresses me like no other movie can.

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Ben B.

@suikofreak412 6d

Solid. I'd watch it again.

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Farah R.

@Farah Jun 9

Not at all the film I expected it to be. Jacob’s Ladder is messy, bleak, and unenjoyable. Not even Tim Robbins’ acting made it better. It was pointless from start to finish.

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Justin T

@RT08580778 Jun 4

This is so beautifully creepy. It has a fantastic story really well told. The acting is excellent with engaging characters. I preferred the first half but that doesn’t stop it being an excellent film overall. I especially enjoyed the brilliant direction. It’s an intelligent and thoughtful psychological horror thriller.

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Ariel B

@RT10407296 May 24

Simplesmente o melhor plot, talvez meu lado fan de Sillent hill 2 esteja gritando de influência pelo carinho que eu tenho sobre esse filme, mas vale muito a pena. Tudo ali tem algo a dizer e de encaixar do suspense psicológico ao terror visual cru.

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Kristofer K

@kbkaizer May 13

A graphic depiction of PTSD and paranoia, making you FEEL the impossible tasks of deciphering illusion from reality.

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Adrian Lyne

Director

Tim Robbins

Jacob Singer

Elizabeth Peña

Jezebel

Danny Aiello

Louis

Matt Craven

Michael

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Paul

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Jacob's Ladder: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.

Director: Adrian Lyne
Producer: Alan Marshall
Screenwriter: Bruce Joel Rubin
Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc., TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.4K
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR