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Jacob's Ladder

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,647
123
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:46
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Mystery

Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his o... Read allMourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,647
123
  • Director
    • Adrian Lyne
  • Writer
    • Bruce Joel Rubin
  • Stars
    • Tim Robbins
    • Elizabeth Peña
    • Danny Aiello
Top credits
  • Director
    • Adrian Lyne
  • Writer
    • Bruce Joel Rubin
  • Stars
    • Tim Robbins
    • Elizabeth Peña
    • Danny Aiello
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 446User reviews
    • 141Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Jacob's Ladder
    Trailer 1:46
    Jacob's Ladder
    Jacob's Ladder | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:08
    Jacob's Ladder | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos124

    Tim Robbins, John Capodice, and John Patrick McLaughlin in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, and Evan O'Meara in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Peña in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins and Matt Craven in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tim Robbins
    Tim Robbins
    • Jacobas Jacob
    Elizabeth Peña
    Elizabeth Peña
    • Jezzieas Jezzie
    Danny Aiello
    Danny Aiello
    • Louisas Louis
    Matt Craven
    Matt Craven
    • Michaelas Michael
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    • Paulas Paul
    Jason Alexander
    Jason Alexander
    • Gearyas Geary
    Patricia Kalember
    Patricia Kalember
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Eriq La Salle
    Eriq La Salle
    • Frankas Frank
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • Georgeas George
    Brian Tarantina
    Brian Tarantina
    • Dougas Doug
    Anthony Alessandro
    • Rodas Rod
    Brent Hinkley
    Brent Hinkley
    • Jerryas Jerry
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Elsaas Elsa
    Suzanne Shepherd
    Suzanne Shepherd
    • Hospital Receptionistas Hospital Receptionist
    Doug Barron
    • Group Leaderas Group Leader
    Jan Saint
    • Santaas Santa
    Kisha Skinner
    • Street Singeras Street Singer
    Dion Simmons
    • Street Singeras Street Singer
    • Director
      • Adrian Lyne
    • Writer
      • Bruce Joel Rubin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Jacob Singer is trying to make sense of his fractured life and memories. Plagued by hallucinations, flashbacks, and conspiracies, he struggles down a path to enlightenment from these manic strains. With nothing but support from friends and loved ones will he be able to push through the haze of his PTSD.
    • soldier
    • vietnam
    • new york
    • delusion
    • conspiracy
    • 333 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You can't run from your own mind
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All SFX were filmed live, with no post-production. For example, to achieve the famous 'shaking head' effect, director Adrian Lyne simply filmed the actor waving his head around (and keeping his shoulders and the rest of his body completely still) at 4fps, resulting in an incredibly fast and deeply disturbing motion when played back at the normal frame-rate of 24fps.
    • Goofs
      One of the occult books Jacob is examining ("A Witch's Bible Volume 1") was not published until 1984, more than a decade after the movie is supposed to have taken place.
    • Quotes

      Louis: Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, he said. They're freeing your soul. So the way he sees it, if you're frightened of dying and... and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. It's just a matter of how you look at it, that's all. So don't worry, okay? Okay?

    • Crazy credits
      The credits roll over a grainy black and white photo of Gabe and Jacob crossing the street together.
    • Alternate versions
      After initial test audiences reported that the film was overwhelming, director Adrian Lyne cut out twenty minutes of material, almost all of which came from the last third of the film. Four major sequences were removed after Jacob first meets Michael; a scene where Michael gives him an antidote for the Ladder, a scene where Jacob thinks he is cured but turns out not to be; a scene where he goes to Michael's apartment and finds Michael decapitated; and a scene just prior to his final meeting with Gabe, where he meets Jezzie, who shows her true form.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Silent Classics (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      LADY MARMALADE
      By Bob Crewe (as B. Crewe) / Kenny Nolan (as K. Nolan)

      Published by Kenny Nolan Publishing / Tannyboy Music / Stone Diamond Corp. (BMI)

      Performed by LaBelle

      Courtesy of CBS Records

    User reviews446

    Review
    Top review
    A film that sports technicality, a fresh plot, incredible editing and immersive characters
    Jacobs Ladder is one of those rare films that throws you and your mind about like a ragdoll before giving you a bitter conclusion that turns everything upside down again. Forget Donnie Darko, that was mere childs play, this film is something else. Jacobs Ladder provides an experience so intimidating, brutal, wonderful and beautiful unparalleled to this day. This is something you have never seen or experienced before in film, and will probably never experience again.

    Jacob Singer is a postal worker, who, through the brutal effects of Vietnam, mentally breaks down, and starts seeing demons following him, killing his friends, raping his wife...... Make no mistake, Jacobs Ladder is a grim film but behind its dark mask lies an uplifting message of hope, freedom and mental release. I wont say anymore, because spoiling the plot for you would be extremely horrible of me, who am i to take away the magic of seeing the film from you.

    I'm not going to say that this is accessible to everyone, its not in the least. If your favourite film is American Pie than turn away, this is REAL film making. A lot of people will not like this, because they will expect, like with most films, to have all the answers served to them on a plate. Jacobs Ladder requires the viewer to do the thinking, letting them have their own perceptions of the film rather then being fed that of the directors. If you do choose to go on Jacobs journey with him be warned, it wont always be pretty, but you will come out of it gratified that for once in film you have the freedom to think for yourself.
    helpful•206
    48
    • Cubert_99
    • Nov 3, 2004

    FAQ9

    • What were screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin's main influences when composing the screenplay?
    • What is the significance of the title?
    • What book is Jacob reading on the train early in the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jacobova ljestvica uzasa
    • Filming locations
      • Puerto Rico
    • Production company
      • Carolco Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,118,851
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,500,760
      • Nov 4, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,118,851
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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