Jacob's Ladder is a 1990 American psychological horror film directed by Adrian Lyne,
produced by Alan Marshall, and written by Bruce Joel Rubin. The film stars Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, and Danny Aiello. It tells the story of Jacob Singer, a Vietnam War veteran haunted by fragmented and bizarre experiences that blur the lines between reality and hallucination.
The film follows Jacob as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind his increasingly disturbing visions. Jacob's unit in Vietnam experiences a traumatic event, and after returning home to New York City, he begins to suffer from vivid and unsettling hallucinations. These visions include monstrous figures and distorted versions of reality, leaving him struggling to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
As Jacob delves deeper into the source of his torment, he reconnects with his former army buddies, who are experiencing similar phenomena. They begin to suspect that they were unwitting subjects of a secret military experiment conducted during the war. This revelation leads Jacob down a path of paranoia and danger as he seeks to uncover the truth behind his hallucinations.
Jacob's Ladder explores themes of trauma, guilt, paranoia, and the psychological toll of war. The film is known for its unsettling visuals, dreamlike atmosphere, and ambiguous ending, which has led to much interpretation and discussion among viewers. It has since gained a cult following and is considered a significant work in the psychological horror genre.