It can be hard to maintain interest in these, but I wanted to give us the option. Just let me know if you want to join and I'll add you to the list below. Each Friday, the next user in line will pick a horror film for the thread to watch and discuss that week. Members: Myself, @estebanwaseaten, @Daniel, @ghostedaway, @incognitojones, @angrycandy, @jkauf This week's film will be Jacob's Ladder (Adriane Lyne, 1990). It's one of my favorites, a unique paranoid horror story that inspired Silent Hill and one that is truly disturbing to me. I hope others enjoy it too, especially first-time viewers! It looks like it is currently streaming on Showtime and Paramount+ with Apple or Prime. Round One: Jacob's Ladder (1990) - Aaron Mook Event Horizon - estebanwaseaten Bad Ronald - Daniel The Collector (2008) - ghostedaway Extra Ordinary - incognitojones Round Two: The Brood - Aaron Mook Burnt Offerings - estebanwaseaten Poltergeist III - Daniel Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum - ghostedaway The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) - incognitojones Carnival of Souls (1962) - angrycandy Round Three: Man Bites Dog - Aaron Mook Dead Alive/Braindead - estebanwaseaten The McPherson Tape - Daniel Happy Birthday to Me - ghostedaway House (1977) - incognitojones Frogs (1972) - angrycandy Angst (1983) - jkauf Round Four: Roadgames - Aaron Mook Sacrament - estebanwaseaten Milk & Serial - Daniel Sea Fever - ghostedaway Raw - angrycandy Possessor - incognitojones Tales From the Crypt (1972) - jkauf Round Five: Eight Eyes - Aaron Mook Calvaire - estebanwaseaten Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween - Daniel Jennifer's Body - incognitojones Pontypool - angrycandy The Devil's Bath - jkauf Round Six: Blood Beat (1983) - Aaron Mook Pilgrim - estebanwaseaten Await Further Instructions - ghostedaway Night of the Comet - incognitojones The Witch - angrycandy His House - jkauf Round Seven: The Reflecting Skin - Aaron Mook The Greasy Strangler - estebanwaseaten Starry Eyes - ghostedaway
Had to take my cat to the emergency vet last night, so did not get a chance to rewatch and I'm not sure I'm in the best headspace right now. But hopefully soon.
Thank you. Surgery went without complications and he's doing well at the pet hospital, so that's a huge relief
Planning on watching this tonight. I have seen it several times and love it immensely. I feel like it's one of those movies that can take something new away from on each viewing. Excited to hear from those this week that have not seen it before!
I just finished Jacob's Ladder and damn Really liked it. Very unsettling and emotional. Psychological horror is easily one of my favorite horror subgenres. I do wish there was more nightmarish imagery throughout but that's really the only complaint I have (aside from Jacob's hair being kinda distracting)
I'll be able to verbalize it better after rewatch, but I think what I love most about it (aside from the ambiguity) is the subject matter. I'm interested in conspiracies and parapolitical theories (even if some of them are dangerous), and I think the idea of a horror film where the victim is someone who was sold a lie and the monster is a government that will continue to pretend to care about these people while churning them out as another cog in the machine (now with PTSD) is a very fascinating and unique kind of horror that I haven't seen much of. Taking that and pairing it with visuals that would inspire Silent Hill? Now. you really have my attention. Not really horror or conspiracy-related, but if folks enjoy the PTSD/war-adjacent thriller stuff, I also just watched Rolling Thunder for the first time and thought it was really exceptional. It's directed by Paul Schrader (writer of Taxi Driver) and Tarantino apparently has re-filmed much of its climax for his upcoming final film, The Movie Critic.
Yeah I think that's the only horror film I've seen that covers that subject matter. Might look up and see what else is out there
I keep reading that ~20 minutes of footage was cut from Jacob's Ladder after test screening audiences found it too disturbing and overwhelming. I wonder what got cut and if it exists anywhere. Edit: I guess there are some deleted scenes accounted for on the DVD and Blu Ray
I have about 40 minutes left in my rewatch, but I am convinced this is the most upsetting version of Hell ever portrayed on screen. Not just the visual hallucinations, but going from war to the poverty of the city and being teased with the life you once had before waking up back up in Hell. Truly nightmarish stuff
Yeah I would agree. Everything about the NY scenes, right off the bat on the subway til the end is disorienting and off-putting in a very practical and real sense. The initial quick images of the masked figures in the train and in the back of the car are honestly terrifying. It's fitting that the alternate title was Dante's Inferno
Has anyone watched the remake? I know there's a snowball's chance in hell it's any good at all but I am curious now.
Yeah, finished my rewatch last night and I think this is (to me) the most unsettling depiction of Hell ever put on screen. I guess it technically may not be Hell, which is even more frightening, but...war is hell. New York is hell. Having visions of a life you once loved before it was viciously ripped away just to wake back up...it's hell. The desperate chaos of a man's brain trying to make sense of his life in his final moments. It might not be a movie I find scary, but it's a sentiment I find absolutely terrifying. Glad some people are checking it out in here! Reaffirmed as one of my all-time favorites.