10 Psychological Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die
1. Jacob's Ladder
Innovative. Scary. Poignant.
Those are just three of the terms that best describe the subversive and cerebral masterpiece that is Jacob's Ladder.
The mind-melting story of mild-mannered Vietnam veteran Jacob who out of the blue begins to experience demonic visions that become increasingly disturbing and invasive. Things only get stranger when Jacob learns that he may not be alone in his plight, as others are seeing the same visions of doom.
Released back in 1990, this genius slice of brain-bending terror barely broke even, but nowadays it is legendary in cult circles. Lauded for its story, characters and unique approach to horror, the film defied the standard conventions of the time in favour of a singular vision that was like nothing else.
Jacob's Ladder has been seen as highly influential on the horror genre as a whole, with its biggest claim to fame being that it was the main source of inspiration for the Silent Hill series. However, it deserves to be looked back on for its groundbreaking achievements and skillfully crafted narrative, rather than what it subsequently spawned.
The film did recently receive the remake treatment, but the less said about that disgrace the better.