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Jacob's Ladder
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Jacob's Ladder (1990/I) More at IMDbPro »

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Jacob's Ladder (1990) -- A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him.

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   24,427 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 15% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Adrian Lyne
Writer (WGA):
Bruce Joel Rubin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jacob's Ladder on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 November 1990 (USA) more
Tagline:
The most frightening thing about Jacob Singer's nightmare is that he isn't dreaming.
Plot:
A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins more
User Comments:
I enjoyed it much more after a second viewing more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tim Robbins ... Jacob Singer
Elizabeth Peña ... Jezzie

Danny Aiello ... Louis

Matt Craven ... Michael
Pruitt Taylor Vince ... Paul

Jason Alexander ... Geary

Patricia Kalember ... Sarah

Eriq La Salle ... Frank

Ving Rhames ... George

Brian Tarantina ... Doug

Anthony Alessandro ... Rod
Brent Hinkley ... Jerry
S. Epatha Merkerson ... Elsa
Suzanne Shepherd ... Hospital Receptionist
Doug Barron ... Group Leader
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dante's Inferno
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Runtime:
115 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Filming Locations:
New York, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Actors who were allegedly interested in playing the leading role of Jacob Singer included Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino and Richard Gere. For the role of Jezzie, director Adrian Lyne auditioned roughly 300 women, including Julia Roberts, Andie MacDowell, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. The role eventually went to the very first person who auditioned - Elizabeth Peña. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene where Jacob and Geary are walking down the stairs, Geary is holding his brief case with his left hand. After he says "war games in Thailand" and makes a motion with his right hand, the next shot shows that hand now holding the brief case. more
Quotes:
Michael: I'd only been in jail 13 hours, I thought 'Nam couldn't be any worse.
Jacob Singer: Shows how little you knew.
Michael: Yeah, really.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin (2007) (V) more
Soundtrack:
SONNY BOY more

FAQ

What book is Jacob reading on the train early in the film?
What special features are on the DVD?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
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41 out of 48 people found the following comment useful:-
I enjoyed it much more after a second viewing, 15 January 2003
8/10
Author: Idocamstuf from Greenville, NY

I remember viewing this movie a couple years back and I did not get a lot out of it, I thought it was just too weird. In fact, I even wrote a review of the film on here. I'm glad I gave it another try because I really got a lot more out of it after the second viewing. Maybe it was because my expectations of the film were lower or I have matured in past few years. Anyway, this is a highly fascinating and entertaining thriller about a Vietnam veteran who always feels like there is somebody or something "out to get him". He feels this way because he keeps seeing strange images and many people in which he comes in contact with appear to have horns growing out of their heads and whatnot. Him and his war buddies believe that these strange occurrences are the result of something that happened during the war. The best element of this film is its atmosphere and paranormal feel which will really give you the creeps as well as have you guessing what the cause of the strange occurrences that are affecting Jacob really are. Well worth viewing, and if it doesn't grab you on the first viewing, don't hesitate to try it again, you may enjoy it more. 8/10.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Jacob's Ladder (1990/I)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Two points which question the conventional view *spoilers* Good_Coffee
Movies like this? apa-86
Jacob's LAdder Special Edition DVD is freakin' weird! biggtittsss
I Still Have The Ticket Stub From This Movie!! labryth75
What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? hughbetcha909
The unpopular interpretation : *SPOILERS* Dylan_Gilliam
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