Hmm. I'm kind of ambivalent about Jacob's Ladder. On one hand, the movie creates a great sensation of paranoia and fear, particularly in the unforgettable "hospital gurney" sequence (must-see viewing for fans of Silent Hill). Director Adrian Lyne should do another horror movie, because here he demonstrates an incredible flair for atmosphere and nightmarish imagery. Good cinematography, a haunting score, and nuanced performances by Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Pena don't hurt either.
But there's a huge subplot, relating to the government conspiracy and cover-up of what really happened to Jacob and his platoon in Vietnam, that doesn't lead anywhere. A huge portion of the movie is devoted to Jacob investigating the conspiracy, culminating in a very long conversation scene with a chemist who seems to hold the answer. This entire story thread becomes more or less meaningless at the end, when everything is explained in a way that has nothing to do with a cover-up. It's like there's an entirely different movie trying to take over. They should have jettisoned the conspiracy plot, or even made it into a completely separate movie.
Too bad, because otherwise Jacob's Ladder works really well. It could have been a really great film, one of those rare horror movies that help us define what it means to be human. As it stands, it's worth seeing once or twice.
But there's a huge subplot, relating to the government conspiracy and cover-up of what really happened to Jacob and his platoon in Vietnam, that doesn't lead anywhere. A huge portion of the movie is devoted to Jacob investigating the conspiracy, culminating in a very long conversation scene with a chemist who seems to hold the answer. This entire story thread becomes more or less meaningless at the end, when everything is explained in a way that has nothing to do with a cover-up. It's like there's an entirely different movie trying to take over. They should have jettisoned the conspiracy plot, or even made it into a completely separate movie.
Too bad, because otherwise Jacob's Ladder works really well. It could have been a really great film, one of those rare horror movies that help us define what it means to be human. As it stands, it's worth seeing once or twice.