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Summary
There’s no such thing as watching too manysci-fi thrillers— it’s a genre that often gets a lot of things right, even if it doesn’t always hit the mark. One hidden gem from 2005 falls into this category, and it’s definitely worth checking out for serioussci-fifans.
Adrien Brodyand Keira Knightley are some of the finest actors working today, but they are typically linked to their post-war survivor or period drama roles, respectively. However, the two of them worked together on theforgotten psychological thrillerThe Jacketin 2005, which deserves more attention.
What IsThe JacketAbout?
Time Travel In A Straitjacket
In thesci-fi thrillerThe Jacket,directed by John Maybury, Adrien Brody plays a Gulf War veteran named Jack Starks. The film begins in 1991 during a mission where Jack is shot in the head by a young boy. He’s presumed dead, but somehow survives with severe amnesia. Fast-forward in time, he returns to the U.S. and becomes entangled in a crime where someone else shoots a cop, but he is wrongly blamed for it.
As a result, he’s sent to a mental institution for treatment, where things quickly become strange and spiral out of control. Jack undergoes a series of unusual treatments, including excessive injections, sensory deprivation, and, most notably, being confined in the titular straitjacket. During the last of these, he discovers that he has the abilityto travel into the future.
What Happens InThe Jacket?
Psychological Torture & A Twisted Love Story
Jack jumps through time and wakes up on Christmas Eve in 2007, where he encountersKeira Knightley’s character, Jackie, who decides to take him in and help him. Jack uncovers a connection to his past when he was framed for murder. This sets off a chain of events, as well as a twisted love story that drives the rest of the film. The result is a distinct and eerie psychological experience, even if it’s not a perfect one.The Jacketends on a rather ambiguous note, presenting at least three or four possible conclusions to Jack’s storyline.
While themurder mystery aspectmay not be entirely solid, the film does a commendable job of keeping the audience engaged with its twists and turns, all while maintaining a tense atmosphere.
What IsThe JacketBased On?
A Jack London Novel & The True Story That Inspired It
The film takes inspiration from a 1915 novel calledThe Star Rover, written by commercial fiction pioneer Jack London. The book was published in the United Kingdom under the titleThe Jacket, from which the film borrows its name. However, director Maybury ensured that the story was credited to Marc Rocco and Tom Bleecker. Instead, the film is said to be looselybased on a true storythat eventually inspired Jack London’s novel, according to Maybury ina 2005 interview withThe Irish Times:
I know you think it is a load of Hollywood nonsense, but it is in fact loosely based on a true story that became a Jack London story.
The true story that inspiredThe Star Roveristhat of Edward Morrell,an American prisonerwho became widely known for enduring severe cruelty and torture. In his memoir,The 25th Man, Morrell recounts how he was kept in solitary confinement for five years at San Quentin, where he became known as the “Dungeon Man.” He was subjected to severe physical abuse in prison, but author Jack London helped him receive a pardon, and used his story as the basis for a character in his novel.
Why DidThe JacketFail?
The Jackethad some high-profile names attached as producers, includingGeorge Clooney and Steven Soderbergh. However, it turned out to be a financial loss, grossing only $21.1 million against a budget of $28.5 million. It wasn’t one of those films that found critical success despite underperforming financially either. As it stands,The Jacketholds middling ratings and reviews, with a 44% score onRotten Tomatoesand a 7.1 out of 10 on IMDb.
Why You Should WatchThe Jacket
The Jacketredeems itself with several factors, especially its technical aspects. The moody cinematography by Peter Deming, known forMulholland DriveandEvil Dead, captures the essence of the thriller. The background score ofThe Jacketwas composed by the experimental legend Brian Eno, who is renowned for redefining the conventions of electronic music. Moreover, the movie features some big names in its cast in addition to Brody and Knightley, including Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly Lynch, and a standout performance fromDaniel Craig.
Who Should WatchThe Jacket?
The Jacketis a great pick for anyone’s watchlist who craves asci-fi thrillerwithborderline horror elements. People who are newcomers to the genre or prefer substance to style may want to skip this film. The film’s repetitive time-travel aspect works both to its advantage and disadvantage.
While it might feel tiring to a mainstream audience, the whiplash effect, if embraced, actually aligns with Adrien Brody’s character’s weariness and depression. The actor embodies all the horrors endured by Jack Starks, including multiple states of repetitive death, confinement, and torture.
Where To WatchThe Jacket
The Jacketis available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Microsoft Store.
