What makes that movie a gem is its atmosphere, in addition to the fact that it makes you question things. I'm glad you watched it. Thanks for the upload =]
Louis was the angel guiding him. I liked the metaphor of chiropractor aligning Jacob's physical body with his spiritual transformation to afterlife. Great reaction!
Basically Jezzie, Newman, and government figures are just inventions of denial by Jacob to convince himself he's not dying. At the end of the film he "let's go" and finally accepts his death.
It could very well be an allegory for Dante's Inferno. I watched this film when I was a young man back in the 80s and it has remained one of my favourites ever since. Letting go and moving on seems very much the theme as well as forgiveness and acceptance. Deep, beautiful cinematography and quite scary at times. A real gem of cinematography.
The big problem with watching this movie past... let's say the year 2000... is that it was such a source of inspiration in movies and other media that every bit got picked apart and reprised many times that we can't be surprised by the overall plot. Because - at the time - it was one of those mind-blowing cult movies that would be highly recommended in video stores and always on the shelves.
Nice reaction. You catched many things through the movie. Some insight: Jacobs Ladder is regarded as a horror movie and is common that people expect a very scary experiense specially because it's listed as influence to so many movies and also for Silent Hill 2 (the game). But the real idea behind it was to adapt the interpretation of The Book of the Dead (mentioned in the movie) that Carl Jung did in his commentary 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead'. The book explains all the stages that the soul would pass after death and Jung creates a bridge to his archetype theories. Jacobs Ladder uses many details to creates its own archetypes like the coins, Jess, who carries the name of Jezabel (a voluptuous female vilain from the bibble). The names of Jacob's sons and even his own are references too). The movie was meant to be a psychological thriller, not a horror. This is more like a fan based misunderstand. Same as Silent Hill 2, regarded for being one of the less scary, but also the best game of the series (and also for having so many influences from this movie). The horror is secoundary, left just to the disturbing imagery. I think the real interesting thing about this one is the stacking phenomena. A millennial book, interpreted by one of the fathers of psychoanalysis, translated to a movie, using Christian symbology, by a Screenwriter obsessed about the afterlife and a director obsessed about erotic thrillers that finally was also a heavy inspiration to a japanese videogame. I mean... that is something. XD (sorry about the poor English, it's not my language).
The scene where Jacob is dancing with his girlfriend and starts either turning into a lizard or bring attacked by a demon was on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
I've heard a lot of references to "Owl Creek", but I think "Carnival Of Souls" is its closest cousin. Great movie from the 60s. As for Jacob's Ladder, I consider it a masterpiece and it's one of my top 10 movies of all time.
@@ScaredPale "Carnival Of Souls" is a great film. Saw it during the early 90s after reading an article in Fangoria Magazine. One thing few reviewers mentioned about this film is that it is VERY sad. There's that remorse about losing your youngest son. I think Jacob totally blamed himself about his son's dead, which triggered his break up in his marriage and probably in his choice to go to Nam (which is almost a metaphor for suicide). Great review again! Ah! Last thing: when I saw "The Sixth Sense" and when it ended I shouted, "Jacob's Ladder did it better", hahahaha! I like "Jacob's Ladder" tons better, though "Sense" is also good.
A big thing to keep in mind is that this film came out a good number of years before The Sixth Sense and all of the films that followed and ushered in a trend of having a twist ending of some sort. Today, people are now more primed for the kind of reveal in this movie.
One of the very few movies that legitimately gets under my skin. Speaking of which. “Under the Skin” is another unique horror movie. Highly recommend it.
I just subscribed to your Channel, this is the second review i watch you do and you happen to be reviewing one of my favorite movies of all time! I loved this movie so much that I named my very 1st rock band in the '90s "Jacob's Ladder"! This movie truly changed my life. I was 23 years old then. I am 52 now. I am semi-retired and living in Florida. It's a trip how fast my life has just flown by. I know this is cliche, but truly truly aim high for whatever you want in life and go for it with all your might because it goes by so freaking fast. I still don't feel a day over 20 years old! So much has happened, grunge came and went. All I have left is 100 songs & my rocking chair. I never bothered to marry or have any kids. My songs became my kids. And I guess my equipment has become my family. Anyhow, I know you could care less, I'm sure. So yeah, enjoy your youth. You're an amazing beautiful soul. I really like your Channel. Keep on, keeping on. -Eli 😊
@@ScaredPaleI just found this reply. RUclips hard at shadowing my messages. Lol. Anyhow, thank you for your reply. I hope your channel is doing awesome! 😊Im thinking of doing one as well. Perhaps i can teach kids how to write song, and tell some of my experiences. Rock on Scared pale. 😉
In chronological order it should be like this: Jacob was married to a Sarah and had three kids. The little one got killed by a truck under Jacob’s supervision and that’s something he never forgave himself for. At the same time, Jacob was finishing a PHd in philosophy. A way to cope with his favorite son’s loss was to enlist in the army and go to Nam. This probably was the breaking point of his marriage with Sarah and she ends kicking him out of the house. While working as a postman he actually meets Jezzie before being drafted to Nam. I see him being drafted as a means to punish himself for losing his beloved son. Once in Nam, all of his platoon gets a dose of BZ drug. If you watch carefully, Jacob is one of the few privates that DOESN’T do the drug, that’s why he begins helping his ailing friends but gets stabbed in the gut with a bayonet though we never know who the perpretator really is until the very end. The rest of the movie is about Jacob’s coming to terms with his untimely death and seeking his son’s forgiveness. Many people overlook how important Gabe is in the whole story (Gabe being Jacob’s dead son). Though being an extremely frightening film, it’s also one of the saddest pieces of cinema of the last 40 years. While people debate endelessly about movies like “The Shining”, they often forget superior fare like “Jacob’s Ladder”, which grows on you with each repeating viewing. This is by far Jeff Lyne’s masterwork and Tim Robbins shining hour. Too bad the film was criminally overlooked at the Oscars, giving the accolades to “Ghost”, another Bruce Joel Rubin masterpiece. Though “Ghost”is an amazing and entertaining film dealing with a similar subject, I find “Jacob’s Ladder” the superior film. Though much less commercial than “Ghost”, its impact is more everlasting to the point that Bruce Joe Rubin (the writer of both films) prefers “Jacob’s Ladder” over “Ghost”, even though the latter gave him an Oscar. To this very date, I can’t sing “Sonny Boy”, by Al Jolson… Maurice Jarre piano version of the same song has to be one of the saddest, most heartfelt pieces of music I’ve ever heard. The mere listening to this tune, puts me in a very sad mood and tears roll off my cheeks. Yeah, some of you might think I’m some sort of sentimental geek, but I love the song even though it hurts me like few songs can. “Jacob’s Ladder” is one of my top 10 movies of all time.
I'm very curious to know how you felt about this movie from a cinematographic stand-point. It's where I feel it shines the brightest. I know it's been a while since you've checked on this probably. :p
It’s been a minute since I watched the movie but from what I can remember it was very interesting stylistically especially to portray the false sense of reality and distortion. I could give this another watch again in maybe like a year or so
I love this movie! I've seen it at least twenty times! It is my fifteenth favorite film of all time. I was impressed that you predicted many turns of plot and easily grasped the allegorical nature of the story. Most people to whom I've shown this movie find it confusing, disturbing or irritating! Lol. It reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" the way he keeps shuffling through different periods in his life and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" the way the entire story plays out in the mere moments before death. You recognized the influence of the latter in your analysis. Robbins' character is dying in the jungle and at the MASH unit throughout the entire film. His dying brain is trying to make sense of what's happening. He only accepts death when he arrives at a logical explanation for the horror he experienced and goes peacefully with his dead son. He hovered on the brink fighting for perhaps hours or, maybe, even just minutes before slipping away. Unlike you, I found it very plausible that Jacob sought a rational explanation to explain his psychological turmoil. He was a bright, educated guy that the other soldiers nicknamed 'Professor', if I remember correctly. The Matt Craven scientist character represents his intellect parsing through the chaotic imagery and resolving it into a coherent narrative. A deleted scene that absolutely should have stayed in the film reveals who Jezebel is. Just before Culkin shows up, Jez appears at his wife's house. She tells him it's over and horrifically transforms into one of the winged, vibrating demons he's been seeing throughout with her face concealed by a shroud. He pulls the shroud off her only to see himself. Jezebel is his self-preservation instinct tethering him to life! I love the eclectic supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Pena as his id, Danny Aiello as his superego and Matt Craven as his ego if you view it in Freudian terms. Pruitt Taylor Vince, Eriq LaSalle, Ving Rhames, Scott Cohen, John Capodice, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jason Alexander, Macaulay Culkin and Patricia Kalember lend great support popping in and out of his shifting realities. The most touching scene is when the late Danny Aiello as Louis the chiropractor instructs Jacob about the meaning of his perceived "demons" and "angels". He teaches Jacob how to let go and die with grace. I staunchly disagree with you about Vietnam movies being patriotic and jingoistic. America was traumatized by that conflict and came to distrust the government's motives for involving us in it. I can't think of any film about the Vietnam war that glorifies it. "Born on the Fourth of July", "Casualties of War", "Hamburger Hill", "Apocalypse Now", "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket", "Da 5 Bloods", "The Deer Hunter", "We Were Soldiers", "Rambo: First Blood", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Air America" and "Rescue Dawn" all depict Vietnam as a disillusioning and/or horrific experience. The war that often gets a pass and is considered the 'good war' is World War II because the situation was much more clear. No one likes Nazis. Other great Adrian Lyne movies are "Lolita" with Jeremy Irons and, of course, "Fatal Attraction" with Michael Douglas.
You’re right in that most Vietnam movies portray the war in a negative light. However knowing some Vietnam vets I still think there’s a weird sense of patriotism and that a lot of vets convince themselves they were “protecting / fighting for their country” or something and will view those films as yes brutal but will twist it in their minds to still be a representation of the “brave sacrifice of our soldiers”. Thanks for the in depth analysis I can feel your deep love for this movie :)
During the live stream I commented that this is Tim Robbins only horror movie but he was also in War of the Worlds (2005) if you consider that movie horror.
Another great review. Did you know that this film was an inspiration to Silent Hill 2? Can you add Blue Velvet to your list? (Also inspired Silent Hill).
oh wowwww, that’s a trip…that Danny Aiello speech when he’s visiting Jacob in the ‘hospital’…UNKLE used that same speech in the middle of Rabbit in Your Headlights w/Thom Yorke…still one of the dopest non-Rhead T. Yorke songs…’n a VERY trippy video. 🤘😮
@@ScaredPale Keyword : Committed lol. I'll have to watch it, and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend Hat's Off Entertainment, thank you for the love dear one I wish you well.
The comparison to Owl Creek is spot-on, although the final reveal is executed far more competently in that short film than it was in this movie. It's a shame that the script telegraphed the ending so clumsily, because Robbins delivered a powerful performance (as he so often does) and the visuals were highly imaginative and effective.
I dont think the ending needs to be telegraphed. I don't think it's clumsy at all, it doesn't need to be understood the first time for the film to work. The movie is from Jake's perspective so he doesn't get to fully understand that he has died, he just has to accept it. There's so much more to his life than his death: the war, his old family, his war buddies, his doctors, his chiropractor, even the woman he had a crush on from the post office. Upon death (and possibly aided by the drugs given to him by the army) he has a "bad trip" down the ladder and must fight his inner (and possibly real) demons as well as make up with his inner (and possibly real) angels. I think it focuses on the government cospiracy for so long during his trip as he realizes his death is their fault. They become the face of the wreckless, out of control vehicle trying to kill him (both the train and the car), but ultimately the real demons come from inside him: his fear of death. And like Louie says, the devils are really angels freeing you from Earth (from your pain). He feels grief for his dead son, I interpret Jezebel as representing his guilt for "leaving his family" by going to Vietnam, which could be why she's another woman he knew from his past whom he may have fancied while still with his wife. The framework of the story is like Owl Creek Bridge, but the focus of this movie is not telegraphing a twist ending, it's calles Jacob's Ladder. It's about how he feared death and leaving his family, and how he resented the authorities who pawned his life in a war, forcing him to loose his Earthly connections and his body. But he realized the freedom in it, that this meant he could be with the son he lost again. That the demons weren't there to drag him to Hell, it was his son Gabriel as an Angel trying to guide him back up the ladder and into the light. Sorry for rambling, but I love this movie and find that it doesn't get the credit it deserves for actually being deep. It's just "a trippy mind movie where he was always dead ohhh" to most people, which i feel is like not seeing the forest for the trees. It's like people say "he moves through his memories and nightmares to confront dying" but no one ever places those memories or nightmares into context or tries to interpret it any more, despite the movie literally begging you to.
Here's the thing if you watch it again and pick up on certain things it brings up more questions. Timelines get blurred and you question how did certain timelines know about other things that had yet to happen if they're technically in the past. The film's ambiguity is what makes it one of my favorites.
the shaking heads monster is a image of repressive emotions / the image of their friends dying in vietnam. For jacob the shaking heads represent death, repression , and fear. Its what hes afraid of, a face thats covered tries to yell but only shakes in fear, a head shaking convulsive from a inminent death. There is a deleted scene they wanted to put in the film but the production didnt allow it , for the director it is cannon. The scene goes like this... jacob in his old house , a shaking head monster appears to haunt him , he takes courage to get closer and take the mask of the monster, revealing the monster is himself , his reflection crying somewhat in relief, like if someone finally awknockledge the reality and his presence and in that moment he goes to the scene with gabe ascending the heaven´s ladder. Gabe or gabriel is another reference of christianity , meaning that the moment he met gabriel "the messager of god" is the moment he freed himself of any load and attachment.
"Hi, Scared Pale. My name is Logan Monroe, and I'm a really big fan of your amazing RUclips channel, associated with horror, and I was wondering if you would like to hear about a possible movie recommendation for a future reaction video, if you would like to hear about it from me or not?"
@@ScaredPale "It is a 1982 American action crime neo-noir science fiction horror/slasher film called: Silent Rage and is directed by Michael Miller. Starring Chuck Norris, co-starring: Ron Silver, Steven Keats, Toni Kalem, William Finley, Stephen Furst, and Brian Libby as John Kirby (the film's main antagonist)."
Me, too: 'breaks my heart to see that skyline in pre 9/11film footage. And now, NYC's sky has a piece missing. Or a piece wrong. 'Seemed like anywhere you were in lower Manhattan, you could walk a little further, and there they were peeking down on you. I think Macaulay Culkin goes uncredited in this film. My take on this was always that he never left the MASH unit. That he was dying and this was all his struggle to hang onto life. Made up of dream and memories and delirium. Grappling with dying. Finally finding terms for leaving. The experimental psychotropic drug angle seemed like a tacked-on afterthought.
I like this movie because she throws the pictures into the Kernerator incinerator and my last name. Just kidding i forgot about that. But love this movie. Been awhile since I saw it.
Have you watched the film "Coraline" yet? Many people think its creepy and unsettling, lol. But I think when it first came out, all the adults were just having flashbacks to "Night Breed" which is basically 'Coraline' mixed with 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', mixed with splatter film, mixed with "Princess Bride". I suggest people watch "Coraline", then "Night Breed", they both have the button eyes thing going on. Nowadays, "Night Breed" seems a bit silly, but lots of gore. And who knows perhaps 'Coraline', and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' might never have been made if it hadn't frightened and amused someone.
Excellent responses. I agree that the drug subplot feels a little extraneous - it feels like its inclusion was simply a way to muddy the waters and create confusion. None of that would be a problem if it didn't feel quite as contrived. x x x
@@ScaredPale please dont let Auditions reputation mislead you. It is good and shocking but it is a genre jumping movie. Many watch it expecting a barage of the dark and horrifying and are disappointed that its very slow and feels like a different movie for the entire first half. I dont mean to give anything away but that movies reputation often leads to new viewers thinking that its lame, so just dont expect a constantly brutal movie like many build it up to be.
So it's good to know that you basically have the correct view of the Viet Nam war. It was an insecure US govt that wanted to flex and were happy to put hundreds of thousands of lives of other people's sons behind it. And we lost. Unfortunately the US civilian public took it out on the soldiers that were ordered to participate, instead of the US govt that compelled them to participate. As to the film, too few reactors have taken it on, so I'm happy to see that you did. Surrealism to bring about Eckhart's belief that god is not a being but is existence itself, and boy did Jacob have an existence.
Great reaction baby. War is a loss no matter what. Leaders in High Places treat human beings with families like chess pieces, killing each other for some blind IDEAL! It is disgusting. If two men have a disagreeance, put some boxing gloves on them and let them have it out. Tyrants are One Person. That person is easy to take out, if we abide by the laws of solidarity.
Horror films are silly movies, they contribute nothing to your brain, you should watch more intelligent movies, or at least watch horror movies like "The Exorcist", "The Amityville Horror", "The Entity", etc.. movies based on real life events .
What a galaxy brain take. There's plenty of stimulation to be found in the horror genre, both intellectual (if that's the direction a writer or director wants to go), as well as a simpler visceral kind of stimulation that humans now have a tendency to actively seek out when living in a global, more-or-less, civilized society with a huge amount of safety in nearly all aspects of life, compared to our far ancestors, where primal emotions such as fear dominated every aspect of theirs. We're naturally drawn to the morbid, and if people tell me they've never turned their head to get a better look at an ambulance parked near an accident I'll have to call their bluff. Just because there are plenty of "silly" horror movies doesn't mean that the genre contributes nothing to your brain. If you get up from the couch after having watched "Jacob's Ladder" with no lingering questions while shrugging it off as being "unintelligent", then I'm forced to assume that you have little to no internal monologue.
What makes that movie a gem is its atmosphere, in addition to the fact that it makes you question things. I'm glad you watched it. Thanks for the upload =]
Louis was the angel guiding him. I liked the metaphor of chiropractor aligning Jacob's physical body with his spiritual transformation to afterlife.
Great reaction!
Wow yes beautifully put!
Basically Jezzie, Newman, and government figures are just inventions of denial by Jacob to convince himself he's not dying. At the end of the film he "let's go" and finally accepts his death.
Even if you know the origin of Jacobs Ladder, the ending is still a surprise.
It could very well be an allegory for Dante's Inferno. I watched this film when I was a young man back in the 80s and it has remained one of my favourites ever since. Letting go and moving on seems very much the theme as well as forgiveness and acceptance. Deep, beautiful cinematography and quite scary at times. A real gem of cinematography.
It’s more like Jacob’s Ladder from the bible
Well in some countries it is indeed called Jacob's Inferno.
Agreed. A powerful film.
In 1990 this film was suspenseful and cool.
With many soon to be very well known actors.
The big problem with watching this movie past... let's say the year 2000... is that it was such a source of inspiration in movies and other media that every bit got picked apart and reprised many times that we can't be surprised by the overall plot. Because - at the time - it was one of those mind-blowing cult movies that would be highly recommended in video stores and always on the shelves.
Totally, but I also didn't think of new movies. It made me think of that old twilight zone episode. So it seems this concept is age old haha
A worthwhile comment, thanks (jackass).
Nice reaction. You catched many things through the movie.
Some insight: Jacobs Ladder is regarded as a horror movie and is common that people expect a very scary experiense specially because it's listed as influence to so many movies and also for Silent Hill 2 (the game). But the real idea behind it was to adapt the interpretation of The Book of the Dead (mentioned in the movie) that Carl Jung did in his commentary 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead'.
The book explains all the stages that the soul would pass after death and Jung creates a bridge to his archetype theories. Jacobs Ladder uses many details to creates its own archetypes like the coins, Jess, who carries the name of Jezabel (a voluptuous female vilain from the bibble). The names of Jacob's sons and even his own are references too).
The movie was meant to be a psychological thriller, not a horror. This is more like a fan based misunderstand. Same as Silent Hill 2, regarded for being one of the less scary, but also the best game of the series (and also for having so many influences from this movie).
The horror is secoundary, left just to the disturbing imagery. I think the real interesting thing about this one is the stacking phenomena. A millennial book, interpreted by one of the fathers of psychoanalysis, translated to a movie, using Christian symbology, by a Screenwriter obsessed about the afterlife and a director obsessed about erotic thrillers that finally was also a heavy inspiration to a japanese videogame. I mean... that is something. XD
(sorry about the poor English, it's not my language).
Such a heavy movie - in terms of the whole letting go and being able to move on after you die.
The scene where Jacob is dancing with his girlfriend and starts either turning into a lizard or bring attacked by a demon was on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
The moving heads were creepier to me
I've heard a lot of references to "Owl Creek", but I think "Carnival Of Souls" is its closest cousin. Great movie from the 60s. As for Jacob's Ladder, I consider it a masterpiece and it's one of my top 10 movies of all time.
Grew up watching Carnival of Souls but it’s been forever. Probably why I could predict the ending.
@@ScaredPale "Carnival Of Souls" is a great film. Saw it during the early 90s after reading an article in Fangoria Magazine. One thing few reviewers mentioned about this film is that it is VERY sad. There's that remorse about losing your youngest son. I think Jacob totally blamed himself about his son's dead, which triggered his break up in his marriage and probably in his choice to go to Nam (which is almost a metaphor for suicide). Great review again! Ah! Last thing: when I saw "The Sixth Sense" and when it ended I shouted, "Jacob's Ladder did it better", hahahaha! I like "Jacob's Ladder" tons better, though "Sense" is also good.
Jacob's Ladder will always be one of the best films of all time for me, along with heavyweights like 2001, Apocalypse Now, etc.
I read the comment wrong for a second and thought you were talking about the 1995 movie Heavyweights hahah which I love
A big thing to keep in mind is that this film came out a good number of years before The Sixth Sense and all of the films that followed and ushered in a trend of having a twist ending of some sort. Today, people are now more primed for the kind of reveal in this movie.
One of the very few movies that legitimately gets under my skin.
Speaking of which. “Under the Skin” is another unique horror movie. Highly recommend it.
I just subscribed to your Channel, this is the second review i watch you do and you happen to be reviewing one of my favorite movies of all time! I loved this movie so much that I named my very 1st rock band in the '90s "Jacob's Ladder"! This movie truly changed my life. I was 23 years old then. I am 52 now. I am semi-retired and living in Florida. It's a trip how fast my life has just flown by. I know this is cliche, but truly truly aim high for whatever you want in life and go for it with all your might because it goes by so freaking fast. I still don't feel a day over 20 years old! So much has happened, grunge came and went. All I have left is 100 songs & my rocking chair. I never bothered to marry or have any kids. My songs became my kids. And I guess my equipment has become my family. Anyhow, I know you could care less, I'm sure. So yeah, enjoy your youth. You're an amazing beautiful soul. I really like your Channel. Keep on, keeping on. -Eli 😊
Thanks! Keep rocking
@@ScaredPaleI just found this reply. RUclips hard at shadowing my messages. Lol. Anyhow, thank you for your reply. I hope your channel is doing awesome! 😊Im thinking of doing one as well. Perhaps i can teach kids how to write song, and tell some of my experiences. Rock on Scared pale. 😉
Do it!!!@@sonicmojo
This is a classic!!!! So twisted & non-traditional 💀💀💀💀
In chronological order it should be like this: Jacob was married to a Sarah and had three kids. The little one got killed by a truck under Jacob’s supervision and that’s something he never forgave himself for. At the same time, Jacob was finishing a PHd in philosophy.
A way to cope with his favorite son’s loss was to enlist in the army and go to Nam. This probably was the breaking point of his marriage with Sarah and she ends kicking him out of the house. While working as a postman he actually meets Jezzie before being drafted to Nam. I see him being drafted as a means to punish himself for losing his beloved son. Once in Nam, all of his platoon gets a dose of BZ drug. If you watch carefully, Jacob is one of the few privates that DOESN’T do the drug, that’s why he begins helping his ailing friends but gets stabbed in the gut with a bayonet though we never know who the perpretator really is until the very end. The rest of the movie is about Jacob’s coming to terms with his untimely death and seeking his son’s forgiveness. Many people overlook how important Gabe is in the whole story (Gabe being Jacob’s dead son). Though being an extremely frightening film, it’s also one of the saddest pieces of cinema of the last 40 years. While people debate endelessly about movies like “The Shining”, they often forget superior fare like “Jacob’s Ladder”, which grows on you with each repeating viewing. This is by far Jeff Lyne’s masterwork and Tim Robbins shining hour. Too bad the film was criminally overlooked at the Oscars, giving the accolades to “Ghost”, another Bruce Joel Rubin masterpiece. Though “Ghost”is an amazing and entertaining film dealing with a similar subject, I find “Jacob’s Ladder” the superior film. Though much less commercial than “Ghost”, its impact is more everlasting to the point that Bruce Joe Rubin (the writer of both films) prefers “Jacob’s Ladder” over “Ghost”, even though the latter gave him an Oscar.
To this very date, I can’t sing “Sonny Boy”, by Al Jolson… Maurice Jarre piano version of the same song has to be one of the saddest, most heartfelt pieces of music I’ve ever heard. The mere listening to this tune, puts me in a very sad mood and tears roll off my cheeks. Yeah, some of you might think I’m some sort of sentimental geek, but I love the song even though it hurts me like few songs can. “Jacob’s Ladder” is one of my top 10 movies of all time.
1:46
War…yeah..still not comparable to the HORRORS of VOCAL FRY!😂
You had me when I saw the Clifford poster on your wall 😍
THANK YOU
Clifford is one of the greatest movies ever made. Also Jacob's Ladder is cool.
Can you just act like a human boy for one minute here
In less than four minutes you guessed the whole movie's premise!
You are good.
I'm very curious to know how you felt about this movie from a cinematographic stand-point. It's where I feel it shines the brightest.
I know it's been a while since you've checked on this probably. :p
It’s been a minute since I watched the movie but from what I can remember it was very interesting stylistically especially to portray the false sense of reality and distortion. I could give this another watch again in maybe like a year or so
Kate Winslet comments on horrors wow who would have guessed
I love this movie! I've seen it at least twenty times! It is my fifteenth favorite film of all time.
I was impressed that you predicted many turns of plot and easily grasped the allegorical nature of the story. Most people to whom I've shown this movie find it confusing, disturbing or irritating! Lol.
It reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" the way he keeps shuffling through different periods in his life and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" the way the entire story plays out in the mere moments before death. You recognized the influence of the latter in your analysis.
Robbins' character is dying in the jungle and at the MASH unit throughout the entire film. His dying brain is trying to make sense of what's happening. He only accepts death when he arrives at a logical explanation for the horror he experienced and goes peacefully with his dead son. He hovered on the brink fighting for perhaps hours or, maybe, even just minutes before slipping away.
Unlike you, I found it very plausible that Jacob sought a rational explanation to explain his psychological turmoil. He was a bright, educated guy that the other soldiers nicknamed 'Professor', if I remember correctly. The Matt Craven scientist character represents his intellect parsing through the chaotic imagery and resolving it into a coherent narrative.
A deleted scene that absolutely should have stayed in the film reveals who Jezebel is. Just before Culkin shows up, Jez appears at his wife's house. She tells him it's over and horrifically transforms into one of the winged, vibrating demons he's been seeing throughout with her face concealed by a shroud. He pulls the shroud off her only to see himself. Jezebel is his self-preservation instinct tethering him to life!
I love the eclectic supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Pena as his id, Danny Aiello as his superego and Matt Craven as his ego if you view it in Freudian terms. Pruitt Taylor Vince, Eriq LaSalle, Ving Rhames, Scott Cohen, John Capodice, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jason Alexander, Macaulay Culkin and Patricia Kalember lend great support popping in and out of his shifting realities.
The most touching scene is when the late Danny Aiello as Louis the chiropractor instructs Jacob about the meaning of his perceived "demons" and "angels". He teaches Jacob how to let go and die with grace.
I staunchly disagree with you about Vietnam movies being patriotic and jingoistic. America was traumatized by that conflict and came to distrust the government's motives for involving us in it. I can't think of any film about the Vietnam war that glorifies it. "Born on the Fourth of July", "Casualties of War", "Hamburger Hill", "Apocalypse Now", "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket", "Da 5 Bloods", "The Deer Hunter", "We Were Soldiers", "Rambo: First Blood", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Air America" and "Rescue Dawn" all depict Vietnam as a disillusioning and/or horrific experience. The war that often gets a pass and is considered the 'good war' is World War II because the situation was much more clear. No one likes Nazis.
Other great Adrian Lyne movies are "Lolita" with Jeremy Irons and, of course, "Fatal Attraction" with Michael Douglas.
You’re right in that most Vietnam movies portray the war in a negative light. However knowing some Vietnam vets I still think there’s a weird sense of patriotism and that a lot of vets convince themselves they were “protecting / fighting for their country” or something and will view those films as yes brutal but will twist it in their minds to still be a representation of the “brave sacrifice of our soldiers”.
Thanks for the in depth analysis I can feel your deep love for this movie :)
During the live stream I commented that this is Tim Robbins only horror movie but he was also in War of the Worlds (2005) if you consider that movie horror.
Oh he is?!?! WOW I totally forgot he was in that
Another great review. Did you know that this film was an inspiration to Silent Hill 2? Can you add Blue Velvet to your list? (Also inspired Silent Hill).
And of course Kindergarten Cop
oh wowwww, that’s a trip…that Danny Aiello speech when he’s visiting Jacob in the ‘hospital’…UNKLE used that same speech in the middle of Rabbit in Your Headlights w/Thom Yorke…still one of the dopest non-Rhead T. Yorke songs…’n a VERY trippy video. 🤘😮
Scared Pale "Clifford" poster ? I haven't seen it, but according to your fellow youtuber Hat's Off Entertainment it's "An almost cult classic".
Its a personal favorite. Martin Short's performance is so committed hahahaha.
@@ScaredPale Keyword : Committed lol. I'll have to watch it, and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend Hat's Off Entertainment, thank you for the love dear one I wish you well.
Good review, difficult movie in my opinion. I love your Steve Martin photo on your wall
The comparison to Owl Creek is spot-on, although the final reveal is executed far more competently in that short film than it was in this movie. It's a shame that the script telegraphed the ending so clumsily, because Robbins delivered a powerful performance (as he so often does) and the visuals were highly imaginative and effective.
YES thank you
. leaving something to the imagination , sense of mistery , etc . does not go well with people today 😒
I dont think the ending needs to be telegraphed. I don't think it's clumsy at all, it doesn't need to be understood the first time for the film to work.
The movie is from Jake's perspective so he doesn't get to fully understand that he has died, he just has to accept it. There's so much more to his life than his death: the war, his old family, his war buddies, his doctors, his chiropractor, even the woman he had a crush on from the post office.
Upon death (and possibly aided by the drugs given to him by the army) he has a "bad trip" down the ladder and must fight his inner (and possibly real) demons as well as make up with his inner (and possibly real) angels. I think it focuses on the government cospiracy for so long during his trip as he realizes his death is their fault. They become the face of the wreckless, out of control vehicle trying to kill him (both the train and the car), but ultimately the real demons come from inside him: his fear of death. And like Louie says, the devils are really angels freeing you from Earth (from your pain). He feels grief for his dead son, I interpret Jezebel as representing his guilt for "leaving his family" by going to Vietnam, which could be why she's another woman he knew from his past whom he may have fancied while still with his wife.
The framework of the story is like Owl Creek Bridge, but the focus of this movie is not telegraphing a twist ending, it's calles Jacob's Ladder. It's about how he feared death and leaving his family, and how he resented the authorities who pawned his life in a war, forcing him to loose his Earthly connections and his body. But he realized the freedom in it, that this meant he could be with the son he lost again. That the demons weren't there to drag him to Hell, it was his son Gabriel as an Angel trying to guide him back up the ladder and into the light.
Sorry for rambling, but I love this movie and find that it doesn't get the credit it deserves for actually being deep. It's just "a trippy mind movie where he was always dead ohhh" to most people, which i feel is like not seeing the forest for the trees. It's like people say "he moves through his memories and nightmares to confront dying" but no one ever places those memories or nightmares into context or tries to interpret it any more, despite the movie literally begging you to.
Here's the thing if you watch it again and pick up on certain things it brings up more questions. Timelines get blurred and you question how did certain timelines know about other things that had yet to happen if they're technically in the past. The film's ambiguity is what makes it one of my favorites.
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but the head shaking stuff and a lot of the visuals were a direct inspiration for the silent hill games.
the shaking heads monster is a image of repressive emotions / the image of their friends dying in vietnam. For jacob the shaking heads represent death, repression , and fear.
Its what hes afraid of, a face thats covered tries to yell but only shakes in fear, a head shaking convulsive from a inminent death.
There is a deleted scene they wanted to put in the film but the production didnt allow it , for the director it is cannon.
The scene goes like this... jacob in his old house , a shaking head monster appears to haunt him , he takes courage to get closer and take the mask of the monster, revealing the monster is himself , his reflection crying somewhat in relief, like if someone finally awknockledge the reality and his presence and in that moment he goes to the scene with gabe ascending the heaven´s ladder. Gabe or gabriel is another reference of christianity , meaning that the moment he met gabriel "the messager of god" is the moment he freed himself of any load and attachment.
I saw this movie in the theater, in my teens. Definitely didn't help my growing existential crisis.
Impressive, you predicted so many things throughout the movie
"Hi, Scared Pale. My name is Logan Monroe, and I'm a really big fan of your amazing RUclips channel, associated with horror, and I was wondering if you would like to hear about a possible movie recommendation for a future reaction video, if you would like to hear about it from me or not?"
Sure
@@ScaredPale "It is a 1982 American action crime neo-noir science fiction horror/slasher film called: Silent Rage and is directed by Michael Miller. Starring Chuck Norris, co-starring: Ron Silver, Steven Keats, Toni Kalem, William Finley, Stephen Furst, and Brian Libby as John Kirby (the film's main antagonist)."
Where have you been the past couple months? I hope everything is fine on your end!
Thanks for checking in, been dealing with some personal stuff and just moved. I should be back next week!..hopefully
This movie ranked at #21 in the 100 scariest movie moments on Bravo
That surprises me
I think you should watch Return of the Living Dead. It's one of my favourite zombie movies.
The twist ending was quite unexpected.
Thanks for the video!! See you later!! Stay safe.😉
Thanks! You too!
Me, too: 'breaks my heart to see that skyline in pre 9/11film footage. And now, NYC's sky has a piece missing. Or a piece wrong. 'Seemed like anywhere you were in lower Manhattan, you could walk a little further, and there they were peeking down on you.
I think Macaulay Culkin goes uncredited in this film.
My take on this was always that he never left the MASH unit. That he was dying and this was all his struggle to hang onto life. Made up of dream and memories and delirium. Grappling with dying. Finally finding terms for leaving.
The experimental psychotropic drug angle seemed like a tacked-on afterthought.
I like this movie because she throws the pictures into the Kernerator incinerator and my last name. Just kidding i forgot about that. But love this movie. Been awhile since I saw it.
This is where Newman and George first met.
Another rough watch is "My Life" with Micheal Keaton written by the guy who wrote this movie. Very sad movie.
The only word that explains this movie for me was misdirection. The director to us and jacob to jacob.
This Movie Rules And So Do You 👍🏻
Thanks!
Have you watched the film "Coraline" yet? Many people think its creepy and unsettling, lol. But I think when it first came out, all the adults were just having flashbacks to "Night Breed" which is basically 'Coraline' mixed with 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', mixed with splatter film, mixed with "Princess Bride". I suggest people watch "Coraline", then "Night Breed", they both have the button eyes thing going on. Nowadays, "Night Breed" seems a bit silly, but lots of gore. And who knows perhaps 'Coraline', and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' might never have been made if it hadn't frightened and amused someone.
Great reaction💯🔥🌹
Miss seeing new content on your channel. Hope all is well and you will return soon. J$H Wednesday 07.06.2022 1:26 PM.
Hoping to have a new video up next week
Excellent responses. I agree that the drug subplot feels a little extraneous - it feels like its inclusion was simply a way to muddy the waters and create confusion. None of that would be a problem if it didn't feel quite as contrived. x x x
The movie isn't really for me but Tim Robbins is great in it.
The young (and uncredited) Macaulay Culkin
Who can believe that Adrian Lynn can do this kind of movie ?
Damn you got everything right
keep producing content. Maybe react to couple of asian horror movies such as "Audition" ? maybe some Stephen King nex such as "IT" ?
Audition is one I haven’t seen but I know it’s brutal
@@ScaredPale please dont let Auditions reputation mislead you. It is good and shocking but it is a genre jumping movie. Many watch it expecting a barage of the dark and horrifying and are disappointed that its very slow and feels like a different movie for the entire first half. I dont mean to give anything away but that movies reputation often leads to new viewers thinking that its lame, so just dont expect a constantly brutal movie like many build it up to be.
wow you look like Kate Winslet in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Best Fishes - Steve Martin
So it's good to know that you basically have the correct view of the Viet Nam war. It was an insecure US govt that wanted to flex and were happy to put hundreds of thousands of lives of other people's sons behind it. And we lost. Unfortunately the US civilian public took it out on the soldiers that were ordered to participate, instead of the US govt that compelled them to participate. As to the film, too few reactors have taken it on, so I'm happy to see that you did. Surrealism to bring about Eckhart's belief that god is not a being but is existence itself, and boy did Jacob have an existence.
Louis is metatron😊
This movie and Flatliners (the original not the remake) had a lot of similar aspects but I like this one more. Flatliners was kinda boring.
They literally spelled it out in the name of the movie....😘
Can you please react to
The Ninth gate
Starring Johnny Depp
My fav horror movie of all time
Please
Creepshow, creepshow 2, tales from the darkside
Love both creep shows!
Great reaction baby. War is a loss no matter what. Leaders in High Places treat human beings with families like chess pieces, killing each other for some blind IDEAL! It is disgusting. If two men have a disagreeance, put some boxing gloves on them and let them have it out. Tyrants are One Person. That person is easy to take out, if we abide by the laws of solidarity.
You talk too much, lady.
Horror films are silly movies, they contribute nothing to your brain, you should watch more intelligent movies, or at least watch horror movies like "The Exorcist", "The Amityville Horror", "The Entity", etc.. movies based on real life events .
What a galaxy brain take. There's plenty of stimulation to be found in the horror genre, both intellectual (if that's the direction a writer or director wants to go), as well as a simpler visceral kind of stimulation that humans now have a tendency to actively seek out when living in a global, more-or-less, civilized society with a huge amount of safety in nearly all aspects of life, compared to our far ancestors, where primal emotions such as fear dominated every aspect of theirs.
We're naturally drawn to the morbid, and if people tell me they've never turned their head to get a better look at an ambulance parked near an accident I'll have to call their bluff.
Just because there are plenty of "silly" horror movies doesn't mean that the genre contributes nothing to your brain. If you get up from the couch after having watched "Jacob's Ladder" with no lingering questions while shrugging it off as being "unintelligent", then I'm forced to assume that you have little to no internal monologue.