Jack Starks (Adrian Brody) is a Gulf War veteran, back home in the states after sustaining a gun shot to the head. Thought to be dead, Starks shows signs of life right before we’re whisked back to the states, all the while hearing about how he is suffering from amnesia, and psychological suppression. Not long into the movie, and a cop winds up dead, Starks appears to be involved, stands trial, and is found not guilty by reason of insanity. He’s then sentenced to an institute for the criminally insane.

I hadn’t heard much about The Jacket but after seeing a trailer and hearing a bit about the plot I was intrigued. I will admit that I went into the movie thinking that this was almost definitely going to be a massive Jacob’s Ladder rip-off, but luckily I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’d go as far to say that The Jacket is probably more like a less psychotic 12 Monkeys than anything else, with a smattering of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest thrown in for good measure, but just a bit.

Everything seems to be somewhat normal, that is until Starks hits the looney bin, and that’s when the weird shit really starts, attacked by staff, sedated, and put into a strange looking straightjacket (hence the name The Jacket) and locked in an “apparatus” which is really nothing more than a morgue drawer. (appears to be some sort of sensory deprivation chamber) he’s flooded with images of his past, things that his mind has long forgotten, or have they happened yet?

Mystery is abound, and you never really get a grasp for what’s going on, and when you think you’ve got an idea, you don’t know if it’s really happening, if Starks is traveling through time, or if he’s incredibly shithouse rat crazy. I really wish I could go a little more in depth, but I don’t want to spoil everything, but safe to say I really did enjoy The Jacket.

The acting is pretty superb from just about all the major players. Brody is masterful as Starks, he’s got one or two moments where I thought things might get carried away, but all was well. Knightly is good as the alcoholic waitress, Kristofferson as the institute’s hard as nails Doctor, hell bent on strange treatment for behavior disorders.

A wonderful story that keeps you confused and guessing. A great ending, that turns out being deep, meaningful, somewhat happy and melancholy at the same time. Someone finally took a mind trip story and ended it almost perfectly and intelligently. Recommended for those of you who love dark psychological thrillers.

Florence Nightingale: Interesting, suspenseful, well done psychological thriller
Nurse Ratched: Can be confusing (but honestly that’s the point).
Review Rating: 8 out of 10 Times you may have died, but may have not.