It's unfair how much this movie targets my specific fears. That said, it's pretty incredible at every genre it attempts. It maybe could have been a little more subtle and still gotten its point across, but it's so wildly original and well-executed that I don't really mind one of the characters blatantly stating the theme.

This guy goes to vietnam and comes back fucked up. It's interesting to find out why.

Lyne's masterpiece about life & death, surviving or dying, heaven and hell, reality and confused disreality. It's one hell of a ride. The dirty, hellish, nightmarish visions of New York are a real stand out and set the mood perfectly, it's almost reminiscent of Taxi Driver in this respect, but with lots of the odd mind-fuck that exists in the supernatural tendencies of David Lynch. The ending, whilst a lot don't like it is well done, and the most hopeful note of the film.

Great film that leaves you questioning what actually happened, what was imagined and questions the realities and struggles of life and death. It is interesting to see the interpretation of what we cling to in life and what haunts us and how the mind tries to make sense of it all. Weird and creepy but worth the watch.

Ending makes me dock a few points but other than that I was entertained and creeped out throughout the film. Tim Robbins gives possibly his best performance and the scenes with him and Macaulay Culkin were genuinely sweet and touching. The scene where they all get together after the funeral is very eerie and messed up. Maurice Jarre's soundtracks are always a treat and it's no different here. Also, I love seeing Danny Aiello in anything, he's the bomb.

A nice movie experience is yet ruined but another meaningless ending.

Haunting Vietnam fantasy with a surprising ending. Look for an early appearance of Louis Black!

"It is easy to go down to hell; Night and Day the Gates of Dark Death stand wide; But to climb back up again, to retrace ones steps to the open air, there lies the problem, the difficult task." -Virgil, The Aeneid, Book VI. Yet, "The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." -John Milton. The film's pluses and minuses lie in the contradiction.

Kind of great, but that ending...

The atmosphere throughout the film is great but the ending was a bit disappointing for me.. Robbins was outstanding..

Amazing psychological thriller

Jacob's Ladder is one movie that I'd seen referenced and recommended for years before finally giving in the time of day and being surprisingly spellbound. Robbins' is only better in Howard the Duck.

Okay, so when someone now talks to me about psychological thrillers (an uncommon conversation but just roll with it), I now have one exceptional movie to recommend. A nightmarish labyrinth that feels so eerily close.