5 Reasons Why I Think Jacob's Ladder Deserves More Recognition as a Great '90s Horror Film

I love so many genres of film, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be horror.

I discussed greatest horror franchises previously on this site and also contributed to our list greatest horror films of all time. However, one scary movie that we haven’t talked about much on this site is the 1990 Tim Robbins film. Jacob’s Ladder.

The 90s were a great time for horror films. (many of these terrorize our childhoods if you’re of a certain age). But I think Jacob’s Ladder is often overlooked and I strive to correct that.

Tim Robbins wakes up scared in Jacob's Ladder — (Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

This is the purest form of psychological horror.

More recently, I wrote an article about Jennifer Lopez.and one of the films I mentioned from her long career was the 2000 psychological sci-fi thriller. Cell. In the movie, J.Lo’s character uses technology to travel into the mind of a killer to help find his latest victim, and yes. This is perhaps the most striking example of a “psychological” thriller, in which characters literally penetrate the psyche of a maniac.

However, when I think of psychological horror films, I usually think of films about characters with deep-rooted trauma or a damaged mental state. Movies like Shineor The Babadook immediately come to mind.

So, given the above, I think that Jacob’s Ladder This may be the purest form of psychological horror I’ve ever seen. In the film, we follow the main character as he suffers from the events of his past, which constantly change and change the world around him.

You see, Jacob Singer is a Vietnam veteran. But unlike John Rambo, who is still mentally fighting the war and taking it out on the people trying to track him down, Jacob is unable to fight back. And that’s because the “people” who want to harm him aren’t really people at all. Instead, it is terrifying visions that haunt and confuse him.

Both Rambo’s First bloodand Jacob in Jacob’s Ladderare some kind of victims. However, what does First blood action thriller and Jacob’s Ladder the psychological horror film is that Jacob is powerless. In fact, he is struggling to understand what is even happening to him.

This is all very deep and terrifying stuff that most other horror films don’t even touch on.

A shaking nightmare vision in the back seat of a car in Jacob's Ladder.

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

It explores topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder and the horrors of war in depth.

As mentioned earlier, Jacob Singer is a Vietnam veteran, and we meet his character in the midst of the war.

The attack occurs, which would already be a pretty startling start to the film, but what’s even more disturbing is that the soldiers begin to act erratically, almost going into an uncontrollable rage.

Jacob ends up being disembowelled by bayonet and then we’re dropped into New York City, where we’re bombarded with bizarre, disorienting images that are unsettling from the start.

Last year we published an article about best war filmsbut we mostly chose what might be considered “traditional” war films, e.g. Dunkirkor Deer Hunter. But, Jacob’s Ladder In many ways, it is a war film as it explores the resonant effects of PTSD and what it means to return from war.

Yes, it is depicted more like a descent into hell, where Jacob fights for his soul. But at the same time, the film can be seen as an allegory of returning from war and the inability to learn more about the world after experiencing hell on earth.

Tim Robbins takes a nasty ice bath in Jacob's Ladder

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

Tim Robbins gives the performance of his life

Ask most people what their favorite Tim Robbins movie is and they’ll probably tell you. Shawshank Redemption. Why not? The film is almost perfect. Personally, I’d rather Mystic River/Hudsucker Proxy man himself, but I can respect you if you think Andy Dufresne is his best role.

However, I will go out on a limb and say that Jacob Singer is Tim Robbins’ greatest performance because it is so subtle and effective. Jacob is a man who is being persecuted, but he is nervous and even angry. He doesn’t understand why people keep telling him he’s dead and he needs answers but doesn’t know how to get them.

Every time he feels close, someone dies in a car explosion or people tell him they want nothing to do with him. His girlfriend tries to help him, but he also thinks she’s demonic.

Robbins’ performance here is amazing as he plays a man who squints to understand what he’s seeing, only to realize that what he’s seeing is actually as bad as he thinks it is. It’s a powerful spectacle, but it gradually becomes more and more intense throughout the film, which I’ll talk about next.

A very confused and scared Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder.

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

The general feeling of dread becomes more and more oppressive throughout the film.

I would definitely include Jacob’s Ladder V list of movies that make me anxiouswhich is strange because this film really takes its time. In fact, some may even find it a little slow, as there are long moments when everything can seem normal, if not a little off.

However, there is always something disturbing going on in the film that doesn’t catch your eye unless you really look, like a tentacle hanging out of a homeless man or strange faces in subway cars.

However, as the film progresses, it gets worse and worse. In one scene the monster penetrates his girlfriend, and in another we see someone’s face rapidly shaking and spinning out of control.

But what’s even worse is that we see these things from Jacob’s point of view, so we actually experience the relentless hell he goes through as the images get worse and more frequent throughout the film.

This makes the film feel foreboding and you will never feel comfortable watching it. Even the score is oppressive and depressing.

Jacob’s Ladder it’s as dark as it gets, and perhaps that’s why it’s been so inspiring over the years, namely video games.

A man crawls upside down on a ceiling fence in Jacob's Ladder.

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

Without Jacob’s Ladder, we might not have horror games like Silent Hill.

I’m a big, big fan resident Evil series and I watched all films. However, when it comes to horror in my video games, I’m much more receptive to silent Hill person than resident Evil boy.

Yes, I know that many silent Hill names after 4 are questionable (And shut up. Silent Hill 4: Room that’s good!), but silent Hill 1-3 (and PTof course) are so amazing that I have to take the side of this psychological horror.

Apparently I’m not alone in my love for Jacob’s Ladder How silent Hill legend Masahiro Ito was greatly inspired by this film. In fact, he had to say this in tweet:

If I had NOT gone to see Jacob’s Ladder in the theater, I would not have made such an Other World school in SH1, and the story of SH2 would have been different!July 9, 2019

So here it is. Silent Hill 2one of the greatest video games of all time (which has a nice boss remake right now) probably wouldn’t be what it was if it weren’t for Jacob’s Ladderand that’s another reason why this movie is so good.

So if you haven’t watched Jacob’s Ladder however, you should definitely check it out. For information about more modern horror filmsbe sure to check back here often!

5 Reasons Why I Think Jacob’s Ladder Deserves More Recognition as a Great ’90s Horror Film

This is the purest form of psychological horror.

By L. Dreeye

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5 Reasons Why I Think Jacob’s Ladder Deserves More Recognition as a Great ’90s Horror Film

This is the purest form of psychological horror.

By L. Dreeye

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