Review of Jacob's Ladder (1990) by Spangle — 28 Feb 2014

Wow, so my brain is mush. Right when you think it cannot get weirder, it absolutely shocks you and does exactly that. One of the things this film does really film is not just confuse you, but make you feel as though you are experiencing what Jacob is experiencing. The bizzare things he sees suddenly effect you as though it is happening to you. I also really loved the religious imagery and how it ties into the film so neatly and adds a true metaphysical spin to this story. This is undoubtedly one that you will have to watch twice to truly understand and see all the signs pointing to the ending. I always thought that films such as A Clockwork Orange or Requiem for a Dream would be the most jarring and flat out...just what films I would ever watch, but no, this one takes the crown. It is also a tough one to write a review on since I do not want to give anything away. Just make sure that if you have time and the opportunity is presented that you watch this one. It will mess with you in ways you never anticipated.

One complaint I have is that it sort of went over the top at times. Once you know what angle they were trying to play, some scenes almost feel as though they are excess with the sole goal of further terrifying the viewer and not necessarily progressing much.