Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Directed by Adrian Lyne. Starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jason Alexander, Patricia Kalember, Matt Craven, Eriq La Salle, Ving Rhames, Brian Tarantina. [R]

Disorienting psychological horror film showing a Vietnam vet (Robbins) losing his grip on sanity in the urban hell of NYC. He and former members of his platoon admit to suffering from hallucinations, and suspect that not only were they subjected to experiments by the military, but are now being targeted by mysterious killers. Evokes both despairing dread and rueful poignancy, while getting by on the strength of its nightmarish imagery—sometimes subtle or obscured, sometimes visceral and grotesque—and its deep, elemental emotions of insecurity, fear, and loss. The actual plot construction, however, isn’t as tricky or clever as the filmmakers think, overusing flashbacks that are better suggested than depicted, and telegraphing the ending way too early…and repeatedly (an ending that both negates so much of what came before and cheapens the journey toward accepting one’s fate). Despite those fundamental flaws, a potent impression worth experiencing for those who aren’t too squeamish or anxious. Written by Bruce Joel Rubin; Maurice Jarre composed the unsettled and ominous music.

68/100