I remember seeing Tim Robbins in the original Jacob’s Ladder back in 1990 and I still remember it as one of the few films that really freaked me out. Back then, the film told the story of a Vietnam Vet who isn’t sure whether he is still in Vietnam, having nightmares about the future, or living in the present having nightmares about his time in Vietnam. It was a great film and one that I’m actually really happy to hear is getting remade. This time around, the focus will be the Iraq War and the two main actors of the film will be Michael Ealy (Almost Human, The Following), and Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy).

The trailer definitely has me thinking that they’ve done more than update the time in which the movie took place, and that’s ok. They definitely still seem to be keeping with the main theme of a man who has been through hell and now isn’t sure if he’s still in it or not. What’s got me most excited about the film are the two leads. Both Ealy and Williams are exceptional actors, and it takes a lot of guts for talent of their caliber to head over to the horror aisle. If you put bad actors into a film like this, it’s going to come off cheesy as hell. I think they might have the skills to pull it off. With that being said, the fact that it’s getting its first release on the DISH network this month before heading to theaters on August 23rd, does give me a little concern.

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. A remake of the 1990 thriller starring Tim Robbins

Meanwhile, if you’ve never seen the original Jacob’s Ladder, check out the trailer below: