Jacob’s Ladder (R)

The term ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ hails from the biblical book of Genesis, and references a stairway or ladder connecting Heaven and Earth. Biblical Patriarch Jacob dreams about the ladder during the flight from his brother Esau. In the bible, the ladder symbolizes the division of life on Earth as a human mortal and infinite life in the after-world of Heaven or Hell.

The 1990 psychological horror film “Jacob’s Ladder” weaves the parables of life and death in a bizarre and macabre tale, ripe with grisly imagery and a tantalizing plot.

The film begins in the Mekong Delta on October 6, 1971. A battalion of U.S.soldiers are about to come under siege from a Viet Cong attack. Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is badly wounded during the carnage as he is bludgeoned in the chest by a bayonet.

The story immediately picks up in 1975 where Singer is a postal worker in the dirty streets of Brooklyn NY. Singer has dozed off on the subway and missed his stop. He exits the train and finds himself in a darkened tunnel. Without warning, he is nearly struck and killed by a mysterious subway car. Glaring at him from the windows of the subway are demonic apparitions. Singer returns home to his apartment where he lives with his girlfriend Jezebel who goes by Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena). It is revealed that Jacob has an ex- wife and children, the youngest of which, Gabe, was killed by an automobile before he left for Vietnam.

At a party, a palm reader tells Jacob he has a strange life line. “According to this, you’re already dead.” She informs him. Jacob’s hallucinations begin to intensify and become more violent and terrifying as the story jumps from to and from the Vietnam battlefield, his life with wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember) and his relationship with Jezzie. The line between reality and delusion becomes increasingly blurry.

Academy Award winner Tim Robbins delivers a harrowing performance of the troubled Jacob Singer. Robbins laid-back demeanor makes for perfect foreplay as Singer becomes increasingly neurotic in an attempt to determine what is going on with his life. Several other major stars have minor roles in their Hollywood dawn; Macaulay Culkin plays Singe’s son Gabe months before his breakout in “Home Alone.” Michael Imperioli, who would go on to play ‘Spider’ in “Goodfellas” later in 1990 makes a brief cameo as a doctor.

Most notable is the attorney Geary, portrayed by Jason Alexander, who would go on to become the household name of George Costanza in “Seinfeld.”

“Jacob’s Ladder” is a great film to toss into your October horror rotation. It’s a perfect balance of suspense and terror that will leave you on edge from rung one, all the way to the top.

-by Matt Christopher