"Jacob's Ladder invites participation and is an intellectually stimulating experience. Even for those who know the ending, there's still pleasure to be had in piecing together the puzzle and figuring out how everything fits together. Without the final piece - that is provided in the last scene - it can be a frustrating experience, but there are those who will figure out the truth before it is explicitly revealed. The film's tone, with its gothic settings, demonic images, and affinity for darkness and shadows, is more reminiscent of horror than anything else, although some would argue that Jacob's Ladder should be seen as science fiction or even a war movie." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews