Adrian Lyne
Jacob's Ladder

Genesis 28:12 “Jacob had a dream: a ladder was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky; and God’s angels were going up and down on it”

I discovered this film by asking in a gaming forum where the creators of Silent Hill (the video game masterpiece*art, not the crappy movie adaptation they made) got their inspiration. When they pointed me to "Jacob's Ladder," I was rather perplexed, both because of the title (the terrible Italian translation is Allucinazione Perversa) and the director (Adrian Lyne directed Flashdance, Nine 1/2 Weeks, Indecent Proposal).

I expected something glossy and banal (a mix between a thriller and a softcore film, knowing the director), but I found myself watching a film with a unique atmosphere (undoubtedly inspiring Silent Hill). A blend of many elements (war, thriller, horror, a love story, and a conspiracy) that remarkably doesn’t turn into an ill-conceived, indigestible mess, but rather blends together perfectly. An oneiric journey that moves across multiple timelines and tells the story of Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins as a former soldier) before, during, and after Vietnam; a journey that passes through the horror of war, the terror of death, the pain of losing loved ones, and madness. Madness that Jacob believes he is a victim of since he returned from Vietnam, ever since the Demons began to haunt his life.

From the first scenes to the epilogue, the film conveys a strong sense of unease that Adrian Lyne is very skilled at creating. The music and cinematography are perfect and assist the director in his sadistic game: cyclically relieving the tension that oppresses the viewer and lulling them with sweet, familiar images, only to strike again with violence, plunging them into a claustrophobic, dark atmosphere. The spatial-temporal shifts create a strong sense of disorientation, of bewilderment, and throughout the viewing, there's an impression that something is wrong, that something is off. The special effects (fortunately, computer graphics were not yet prevalent) are masterfully used to create the Lovecraftian monsters populating Jacob's mind, the most terrifying I’ve ever seen.

I know I’ve been very succinct in describing the film: any extra word about the plot or the feelings it evoked in me might spoil it for someone unfamiliar, and my only aim is to encourage its viewing. Similarly, I leave the critiques to others: I’m not a critic (nor do I aspire to be one); I just wanted to point out a film unjustly ignored by the Debasers.

I've changed my mind; I will make a couple of observations: the Oscars (strictly lowercase) are a joke, reaffirmed by the fact that this film didn’t receive even a single nomination while The Sixth Sense (of which this film is the noble precursor) got 6; in particular, Tim Robbins deserved it, as this is his best performance.

Another observation: I don’t know why Lyne decided to make this film (considering his filmography), but I will be eternally grateful to him for it.