Jacob's Ladder
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.
Working with a moderate budget of $25.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $26.1M in global revenue (+4% profit margin).
3 wins & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Jacob's Ladder (1990) exemplifies meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Adrian Lyne's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jacob Singer
Jezebel
Louis
Sarah
Gabe
Michael Newman
Main Cast & Characters
Jacob Singer
Played by Tim Robbins
A traumatized Vietnam veteran and postal worker experiencing nightmarish hallucinations and memory fragments while trying to uncover what happened to him in the war.
Jezebel
Played by Elizabeth Peña
Jacob's sensual, mysterious girlfriend who alternates between comforting him and appearing demonic in his visions.
Louis
Played by Danny Aiello
Jacob's chiropractor and spiritual guide who provides both physical healing and philosophical wisdom about death and letting go.
Sarah
Played by Patricia Kalember
Jacob's ex-wife and mother of his deceased son Gabe, representing the life and family he lost.
Gabe
Played by Macaulay Culkin
Jacob's young son who died in a bicycle accident, appearing as an angelic presence in Jacob's deteriorating reality.
Michael Newman
Played by Matt Craven
A chemist who reveals the truth about experimental drugs tested on soldiers in Vietnam, serving as herald of the conspiracy.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jacob Singer and his unit in Vietnam, 1971. The soldiers sit together before chaos erupts - their normal before the nightmare begins.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Jacob experiences his first major demonic vision on the subway - a faceless figure shaking its head violently. Reality begins to fracture, triggering his descent into terror.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Jacob and his Army buddies decide to hire a lawyer and pursue the truth about what happened to them in Vietnam. Jacob commits to uncovering the conspiracy, entering the investigative world., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Jacob escapes the nightmarish hospital and is rescued by Louis. False victory: he believes he's found safety and Louis tells him if you're afraid of dying, you'll see devils; if you've made your peace, you'll see angels., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jacob is hit by a car after fleeing from demonic Jezzie. The whiff of death: he lies bleeding in the street, confronting his mortality as the visions intensify and reality crumbles completely., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jacob returns home to find his ex-wife Sarah and his dead son Gabe waiting for him. Gabe takes his hand and leads him up the stairs toward the light - Jacob chooses to let go and accept death., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jacob's Ladder's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Jacob's Ladder against these established plot points, we can identify how Adrian Lyne utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jacob's Ladder within the drama genre.
Adrian Lyne's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Adrian Lyne films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Jacob's Ladder takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Adrian Lyne filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Adrian Lyne analyses, see Flashdance, Indecent Proposal and Fatal Attraction.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jacob Singer and his unit in Vietnam, 1971. The soldiers sit together before chaos erupts - their normal before the nightmare begins.
Theme
Jezzie tells Jacob, "The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life." Theme of letting go and acceptance stated through Louis' biblical quote.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Jacob's fractured post-Vietnam life in 1975 New York: his job at the postal service, relationship with Jezzie, haunting visions, and lingering trauma from his son Gabe's death and divorce from Sarah.
Disruption
Jacob experiences his first major demonic vision on the subway - a faceless figure shaking its head violently. Reality begins to fracture, triggering his descent into terror.
Resistance
Jacob attempts to understand what's happening: reuniting with fellow platoon members who share similar experiences, discovering they were all experiencing hallucinations, and beginning to suspect government conspiracy.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jacob and his Army buddies decide to hire a lawyer and pursue the truth about what happened to them in Vietnam. Jacob commits to uncovering the conspiracy, entering the investigative world.
Mirror World
Jacob visits his chiropractor Louis, who becomes his spiritual guide. Louis offers comfort and wisdom, representing the path of acceptance that mirrors Jacob's need to let go.
Premise
Jacob investigates the mystery while reality deteriorates: his buddies back out and die mysteriously, horrifying hospital sequences, and increasing demonic visions blur the line between hallucination and reality.
Midpoint
Jacob escapes the nightmarish hospital and is rescued by Louis. False victory: he believes he's found safety and Louis tells him if you're afraid of dying, you'll see devils; if you've made your peace, you'll see angels.
Opposition
The conspiracy tightens: government agents threaten Jacob, all his Army friends are killed, Michael Newman reveals the Army tested a rage-inducing drug called "The Ladder" on them in Vietnam, and Jezzie transforms into a demon.
Collapse
Jacob is hit by a car after fleeing from demonic Jezzie. The whiff of death: he lies bleeding in the street, confronting his mortality as the visions intensify and reality crumbles completely.
Crisis
Jacob lies near death while the truth emerges through Newman's confession. Jacob processes the horror of the conspiracy and his darkest visions, reaching his lowest emotional point.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jacob returns home to find his ex-wife Sarah and his dead son Gabe waiting for him. Gabe takes his hand and leads him up the stairs toward the light - Jacob chooses to let go and accept death.
Synthesis
Jacob ascends the staircase with Gabe into brilliant white light, finally at peace. His face radiates serenity as he lets go of his earthly attachments and embraces transcendence.
Transformation
Reality revealed: Jacob never left Vietnam. He died on the battlefield in 1971. His entire "life" in New York was a dying dream. Medics cover his peaceful, smiling face - he has finally let go.