Still reeling from the loss of his youngest son and a torturous time spent back in Vietnam, postman Jacob Singer has been living a life that is less than adequate. Despite having a PhD and a girlfriend who loves and takes care of him, he is employed at the post office and is separated from his wife and other two children, who he misses dearly. Outside of work, he has been suffering from disturbing hallucinations that shake him to his very core. His delusions continue to worsen over time, which include the repeated appearances of men with constantly moving, blurred faces, and giant lizards presumably donning the disguise of other humans surrounding him. Unsettled and terrified of what he has been seeing, he begins to determine that there may no clear explanation as to why he is going mad. During one afternoon, he receives a call from an old cohort in his troop, who tells Jacob that he is not alone in experiencing these visions. Soon, the veteran shall have to start breaking down the differences between what is truly going on inside of his head, and what is actually a part of the horrifying reality that he lives on a day to day basis.
Ha, see? There ARE still monsters making appearances during this marathon.
In all seriousness, taking a break from a loop of Kaiju flicks was utterly necessary right now, as I felt that I was in need of some good human-based horror again. After hearing of Jacob's Ladder, director Adrian Lyne's (Flashdance, Fatal Attraction) extremely trippy foray into the genre, it actually ended up being the very first picture added to this year's iteration of Unseen Terror. And you know that if I am willing to choose or write anything down before a giant monster movie, I must be serious about seeing it. After all, the idea of everything not being precisely what it seems in the mind of a very small minority has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, and I was feeling desperate to see another good traumatic thriller/horror for the first time in quite a few months.
Jacob's Ladder is a fascinating beast of a different breed. Those who glance at the plot or trailer may be expecting one of several things. Some are foreseeing a more sophisticated, serious version of films akin to John Carpenter's They Live. There also exists the possibility of believing it to be a nice love letter to some of the more bizarre filmmakers from the last forty years, including David Cronenberg (The Brood, Videodrome) and David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks), who always managed to throw in a serious nod to the crazier side of the movie spectrum. Or, there is the easier comparison to once-great giants of the field such as M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable). Personally, I would call it a precursor to some of the more respectable, contemporary works outside of the Cineplex, which includes video game titles like Silent Hill and Eternal Darkness, and its influence can be felt throughout theatrical releases that are sometimes argued for NOT being classified as horror, such as American Psycho or Session 9.
Goodness knows, our cast are absolutely treating it like a Grade-A horror flick though. Given Lyne's reputation and prior works in his filmography, seeing that the acting is just stupendous was no surprise. I was legitimately shocked that Tim Robbins (Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption) and the dearly departed Elizabeth Pena (Rush Hour, The Incredibles) did not receive any sort of nominations (not even a Saturn Award?!) for their work here, especially given how much heart and soul they bare when an opportunity is handed to them. Jacob himself is extremely sympathetic; a quiet, strange individual that mercifully doesn't come across as too much of an introverted oddball, as the audience is assured that you should and will care about the man. Every time that he appears distraught or has another horrifying flashback or morbid vision, you just want to give him a hug, hoping and praying that he ends up safe and sound from whatever is driving him to insanity. Pena, playing his very sensual/caring girlfriend Jezzie, has the uncanny ability to make you both adore and hate her, being blessed with the gift of natural charm and a smile that can draw you in just as well as it did to Jacob himself. Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing) also pops up as Louis, our titular character's friend/masseuse, who may have a better understanding of what this fuss is all about, but is simultaneously unaware of everything going on inside of Jacob's fractured mind. Despite his peculiar demeanor and sporadic appearances on screen, he is wiser than he lets on, and some of his dialogue is pivotal to the plot of the overall product.
Sure, all of these characters are great, but the dark, dreary world that Jacob's Ladder takes place in is the glue that keeps the package from falling apart. The misery that is spread throughout this version of Brooklyn is horrible enough to rival that of a motion picture such as David Fincher's Se7en. You get the horrible feeling in your stomach that every single aspect of this world is just ready to come undone once things begin to reveal themselves to our protagonist. Even the brief moments of sunshine and happiness are kept to a minimum, with most popping up in flashbacks that precede terrible moments in Jacob's life. Composing legend Maurice Jarre (Lawrence of Arabia, Ghost) also manages to put together some pieces that have the ability to get under your skin, or that border on the tragically beautiful.
Technically, I've only had to sit through six picks so far for this year's list, but even after glancing again at my choices that I selected for first time screenings, I firmly believe that Jacob's Ladder is going to be very hard to top. Its twisted, psychotic, and often depressing vibe helps its two hour running time finish up quicker than you would expect it to. Though the film will certainly not be for everyone who ventures out to watch it, and its final thirty minutes can be a bit on the convoluted side, those with an open mind and a willingness to think/dissect (for even just a bit) should find themselves in for a rather unique, rewarding, and almost symbolic experience. For a rather tiny amount of money, you can order the DVD and Blu-Ray for Jacob's Ladder on Amazon, and can even rent it for a meager price on services such as YouTube and iTunes.
Or, if you are just impatient, and want a most-likely mediocre reimagining from the same person who brought you 2015's The Perfect Guy, there should be one coming within the next year or two. But if you desire such a thing, you may need more professional help than I thought.
Tomorrow, it's time to go back! Back....to the 80s! And for that matter, back....to a New York where hobos melt into toilets!
No comments:
Post a Comment