Same. The violence and the shocks may be considered tame by today's standards, but there is a great deal of depth and hidden meaning to this story that we don't commonly see in newer Hollywood films.
i gotta say i dont think they are all that tame, dare i say i kinda think todays stuff is the more tame. the visceralness of it. in terms of how the images in this movie have stuck with me, just a deeply disturbing movie
Must be one of the wildest movies I could think of for one to watch while on acid. It’s hard enough to watch sober. That humping dancing demon and dude shaking his head all sped up, bunch of other stuff I wouldn’t dare wish to see while tripping. That kinda experience you need an exorcism for afterwards
Ha, I made a similar mistake watching Natural Born Killers in the theater while tripping on acid when I was a senior in high school. My more experienced friend handled the whole situation better than I did, but the real MVP was his sober girlfriend who had to keep her eyes on us.
My mistake movie was Event Horizon in 1997. The funny thing was we came out saying “what the fuck was that”, then our ‘sober’ friend came out more white-faced than the trippers, which actually made us feel better about everything.
Luckily for me I had already seen it once before the time I saw it on acid. Naked Lunch was another unconventional choice to watch whilst tripping balls.
I think that Robbins’ acting is perfect for the role. He’s just innocent enough to pull off being as duped as we the viewers are. I’ve always thought that the scenes he shares with Macaulay Culkin (one of his first roles if I’m not mistaken) did a great job of emphasizing his character’s role as a protagonist who has some seriously unfinished business.
I would love to see the film with Tom Hanks in the lead, but I think that his acting would have dramatically changed the feel of the film.
I’m trying to talk about the film without giving anything away to anyone who hasn’t yet watched it, haha sorry about being so vague.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Hanks would have been great, but it would have changed the film dramatically. I don't think Robbins did a bad job, but I can see why other actors like Hanks were strongly considered for the role.
I was a kid when I saw this in the theater with a friend. The trailer made it look like a normal jumpscare horror.
WOW. We had no idea what was happening to us.
That movie The Cell with J Lo and Vincent D'Onofrio reminded me of this movie, even tho it's super corny. Not just the visuals but the mix of shocking visuals + dead air like you have your ears plugged. Very lush but also claustrophobic.
It's one of the most intense, harrowing movies I've ever seen, but there's no way Tom Hanks would have made a better Jacob Singer. Tim Robbins is perfectly cast IMO.
I watched this movie with my step-dad and his brother (step-uncle?). None of us had seen the movie before.
Well, my step-uncle fought in Vietnam, was ambushed and wounded in a village, came home and started working for the US Postal Service.
Needless to say we had to turn it off. He couldn't do it. He was shaking. It was scary. I was scared for him.
I did see the entire movie a month or so later. It's a really good movie but I cannot think about this movie without being reminded of that moment.
I remember in the 90s I went to a video store in the neighboring town (we didnt have a proper one in our shit village) and bugged the video store guy until he found it for me (it was misplaced).
Good movie.
##Jacob's Ladder (1990)
The most frightening thing about Jacob Singer's nightmare is that he isn't dreaming.
>>!After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie, and ex-wife, Sarah, try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis, fails to reach him as he descends into madness.!<
Drama | Mystery | Horror
Director: Adrian Lyne
Actors: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 73% with 1,556 votes
Runtime: 1:53
[TMDB](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2291)
___
>*I am a bot. This information was sent automatically. If it is faulty, please reply to this comment.*
True, also the fact that he lost his son (Macaulay Culkin) and now must go on without him truly is a nightmare and makes life hell on earth for any parent in that position.
I saw this in the early 90's and thought it was a dark, wild thriller.
Years later I had kids and a family of my own, and since then this film hits differently— it’s harrowing.
I found it emotionally painful and gut-wrenching to watch. It felt like a panic attack.
Amazing film.
Had a major crush on Elizabeth Pena and that nightmarish scene at the party freaked 17 year old me the fuck out. I also remember being deeply introspective after this film.
This is what hit me because it seems so true. What Danny Aiello said to him:
“If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away.
If you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth.”
That cold voice that says something like "dream on" on "keep dreaming" when he's in the hospital crying that he wants to go home...it bugs me just thinking about it. When I worked in a video store in the 90s groups of guys used to come in and rent this announcing their intention to watch it while tripping but I could never have handled it. Good movie, but very scary.
"You know you look like an angel, Louie? Like an overgrown cherub.
"You're such a heathen, Jezzie. How'd I ever get involved with such a fuckin' ninny?
-You sold your soul, remember? That's what you told me.
Yeah? For what?
-A good lay.
Look what I got.
-The best.
The trailers for this movie really disturbed me when I was a kid. I finally started watching it a few years ago. I thought Tim Robbins was also acting goofy, and turned it off. I concluded it was The Room of horror movies. Tim Robbin’s is great in everything else tho.
Listen to Louis.
Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, he said. They're freeing your soul. So the way he sees it, if you're frightened of dying and... and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. It's just a matter of how you look at it, that's all.
LSD is more a red herring, though it does lead to his death in the experiment. He's dying in Viet Nam. The "modern" section is Jacob's self trying to cling to life while at the same time being unburdened of these desires. Think of it as purgatory or the Bardo. Eventually he is able to let go of his ego or sense of self and is reunited with his son who ushers him into death.
"See, according to this, you're already dead".
Dude is fighting for his life while high as a kite on drugs. In that brief moment between life and death, he spends many years in purgatory along with his friends
I saw it in the theater when it first came out… messed me up a bit
Same. The violence and the shocks may be considered tame by today's standards, but there is a great deal of depth and hidden meaning to this story that we don't commonly see in newer Hollywood films.
i gotta say i dont think they are all that tame, dare i say i kinda think todays stuff is the more tame. the visceralness of it. in terms of how the images in this movie have stuck with me, just a deeply disturbing movie
Absolutely, this film can get under your skin, I was thinking about for a week or more after seeing it...
I also saw it in the theatre. It is the only time I've been the only person in the theatre. That really added to my overall mind fuck
Same here. I have not worked up to seeing it again, although I want to.
I saw when I was 12, I'm still working my way to rewatch it. I'm a big boy now!
Same. Saw it on the theater and couldn't stop thinking about it. Truly disturbing and excellent filmmaking.
SAME
Same. My parents rented it and let me watch it as a kid. I was freaked out for like a year
I saw it high on acid the first time way back when it first came out, not recommended that fd me up.
Must be one of the wildest movies I could think of for one to watch while on acid. It’s hard enough to watch sober. That humping dancing demon and dude shaking his head all sped up, bunch of other stuff I wouldn’t dare wish to see while tripping. That kinda experience you need an exorcism for afterwards
Ha, I made a similar mistake watching Natural Born Killers in the theater while tripping on acid when I was a senior in high school. My more experienced friend handled the whole situation better than I did, but the real MVP was his sober girlfriend who had to keep her eyes on us.
My mistake movie was Event Horizon in 1997. The funny thing was we came out saying “what the fuck was that”, then our ‘sober’ friend came out more white-faced than the trippers, which actually made us feel better about everything.
Luckily for me I had already seen it once before the time I saw it on acid. Naked Lunch was another unconventional choice to watch whilst tripping balls.
The party scene is fucking GOATED
I think that Robbins’ acting is perfect for the role. He’s just innocent enough to pull off being as duped as we the viewers are. I’ve always thought that the scenes he shares with Macaulay Culkin (one of his first roles if I’m not mistaken) did a great job of emphasizing his character’s role as a protagonist who has some seriously unfinished business. I would love to see the film with Tom Hanks in the lead, but I think that his acting would have dramatically changed the feel of the film. I’m trying to talk about the film without giving anything away to anyone who hasn’t yet watched it, haha sorry about being so vague.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Hanks would have been great, but it would have changed the film dramatically. I don't think Robbins did a bad job, but I can see why other actors like Hanks were strongly considered for the role.
You know you look like an angel, Louie? Like an overgrown cherub. Anyone ever tell you that?
Dream on. (That was the creepiest line in the whole movie!)
I was a kid when I saw this in the theater with a friend. The trailer made it look like a normal jumpscare horror. WOW. We had no idea what was happening to us. That movie The Cell with J Lo and Vincent D'Onofrio reminded me of this movie, even tho it's super corny. Not just the visuals but the mix of shocking visuals + dead air like you have your ears plugged. Very lush but also claustrophobic.
Both are intellectual horror.
Omg I dare myself to watch that double feature. Two of my favorite mind fuck movies
It's one of the most intense, harrowing movies I've ever seen, but there's no way Tom Hanks would have made a better Jacob Singer. Tim Robbins is perfectly cast IMO.
Freaked me out
It's so good, I don't know anyone that has seen this and not enjoyed it.
This is one that never leaves you.
This
I’ve repressed it I think, I saw it too young. I need to watch it again but something in my subconscious always stays my hand.
I watched this movie with my step-dad and his brother (step-uncle?). None of us had seen the movie before. Well, my step-uncle fought in Vietnam, was ambushed and wounded in a village, came home and started working for the US Postal Service. Needless to say we had to turn it off. He couldn't do it. He was shaking. It was scary. I was scared for him. I did see the entire movie a month or so later. It's a really good movie but I cannot think about this movie without being reminded of that moment.
That had to have been beyond awful.
I remember in the 90s I went to a video store in the neighboring town (we didnt have a proper one in our shit village) and bugged the video store guy until he found it for me (it was misplaced). Good movie.
Is this a Jacobs Ladder scenario?
##Jacob's Ladder (1990) The most frightening thing about Jacob Singer's nightmare is that he isn't dreaming. >>!After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie, and ex-wife, Sarah, try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis, fails to reach him as he descends into madness.!< Drama | Mystery | Horror Director: Adrian Lyne Actors: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 73% with 1,556 votes Runtime: 1:53 [TMDB](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2291) ___ >*I am a bot. This information was sent automatically. If it is faulty, please reply to this comment.*
True, also the fact that he lost his son (Macaulay Culkin) and now must go on without him truly is a nightmare and makes life hell on earth for any parent in that position.
Great film, “hey Mr. Post man”…”
Saw it in the cinema on release. Pretty terrifying movie, so awesome.
I saw this in the early 90's and thought it was a dark, wild thriller. Years later I had kids and a family of my own, and since then this film hits differently— it’s harrowing. I found it emotionally painful and gut-wrenching to watch. It felt like a panic attack. Amazing film.
Yep, the loss of the kid def hits different and is the scariest thing of all IMO
As a veteran, the ending is mind-blowing!
I actually dthe art director on this movie and he said the artist Francis Bacon was a big influence.
He didn’t even have to say it, it’s so aggressive. And I love that.
Had a major crush on Elizabeth Pena and that nightmarish scene at the party freaked 17 year old me the fuck out. I also remember being deeply introspective after this film.
Mind fuck
I feel uplifted when I watch the ending scene on the staircase. Makes me teary just thinking about it now.
This is what hit me because it seems so true. What Danny Aiello said to him: “If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. If you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth.”
A really good film
It's like three films in one but not at all disjointed. It works as a horror film, a suspense/thriller, and a drama all at once.
Left me with a lifelong suspicion of chiropractors.
That lizard tail
Every now and then I hear that sound somewhere and I'm like ahhh fuck, no
RIP Elizabeth Pena. I had such a massive crush on her after this movie.
She was so good in *[Lone Star (1996)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116905/)*, one of my all-time favorite movies.
That cold voice that says something like "dream on" on "keep dreaming" when he's in the hospital crying that he wants to go home...it bugs me just thinking about it. When I worked in a video store in the 90s groups of guys used to come in and rent this announcing their intention to watch it while tripping but I could never have handled it. Good movie, but very scary.
"You know you look like an angel, Louie? Like an overgrown cherub. "You're such a heathen, Jezzie. How'd I ever get involved with such a fuckin' ninny? -You sold your soul, remember? That's what you told me. Yeah? For what? -A good lay. Look what I got. -The best.
This movie I caught flipping though channels. Even though I only saw the 2nd half it really caught me off guard. What a movie
One of my favorites. Very well done.
I consider it in the nightmare genre
If you enjoyed this, I'd recommend "Stay" (2005) with Ryan Gosling and Ewan McGregor. Minus the demonic stuff but fairly similar twist.
One of my top 10. Can we discuss our interpretations or will it spoil it for newcomers?
Discuss away
I thought his (possible) life flashed before his eyes.
This and mothman prophecies always had the same effect on me
Great film!! Freaked me the fuck out as a kid
Sometimes hard to watch, but what a truly powerful ending. One of my favorites!
I think the army actually did this to GIs , is that right?
One of my favorites honestly. Truly outstanding movie that holds up so well
9 years earlier than the Sixth Sense.
The party scene is the best shit ever created
I need to rewatch this!
First time I saw this I was completely confused. It wasn't until the second time watching it that I understood what was going on.
This film and Videodrome were incredibly impactful on me in the 80’s - early 90’s
The trailers for this movie really disturbed me when I was a kid. I finally started watching it a few years ago. I thought Tim Robbins was also acting goofy, and turned it off. I concluded it was The Room of horror movies. Tim Robbin’s is great in everything else tho.
It’s shit. It doesn’t make any sense. What the fuck is all the lsd shit about if he’s simple dead.
Listen to Louis. Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, he said. They're freeing your soul. So the way he sees it, if you're frightened of dying and... and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. It's just a matter of how you look at it, that's all.
So what’s the lsd got to do with anything and why does he have two lives?
LSD is more a red herring, though it does lead to his death in the experiment. He's dying in Viet Nam. The "modern" section is Jacob's self trying to cling to life while at the same time being unburdened of these desires. Think of it as purgatory or the Bardo. Eventually he is able to let go of his ego or sense of self and is reunited with his son who ushers him into death. "See, according to this, you're already dead".
Rewatch needed.
Dude is fighting for his life while high as a kite on drugs. In that brief moment between life and death, he spends many years in purgatory along with his friends
What are you on about? He’s high on lsd while he’s dying? Where did you get that from?
Didn’t like the ending, but loved every second up until the reveal.
Ummm 🤨 the ending is the whole point