Watch Jakob's Wife

"Jakob's Wife" is a 2021 horror film directed by Travis Stevens and starring horror icon Barbara Crampton as Anne Fedder, a minister's wife in a troubled marriage. When Anne revisits her old flame, Tom (Larry Fessenden), she becomes more empowered than ever before, but also more prone to temptation. Meanwhile, something sinister is taking over the town, turning its inhabitants into bloodthirsty monsters. It's up to Anne to embrace her newfound power and fight this evil before it consumes her and her beloved husband, Jakob (played by Rob Zombie collaborator and horror veteran, Dee Wallace).

The movie starts off slowly, introducing us to the mundane, repetitive life of Anne and Jakob. We see Anne trying to engage with Jakob, but he seems uninterested, absorbed in his work as a preacher. However, as soon as Tom reappears in Anne's life, things start to change. Tom is a laid-back, charismatic character who quickly makes Anne feel more alive than she has in years. Their reunion is filled with tension and unspoken desires, as we sense that there's a lot more to their past relationship than we know.

As Anne becomes more and more drawn to Tom, she starts to feel different. Her senses become heightened, her desires more primal, even her looks appear to change. This transformation parallels the looming horror that's taking over the town. We see people turning into grotesque, animalistic creatures, slaughtering anyone in their path. The gore and violence are intense, but never gratuitous. The movie balances horror and humor expertly, never taking itself too seriously, without sacrificing its thematic depth.

"Jakob's Wife" is not just a horror movie, it's also a character study of a woman finding her voice. Anne's journey from dutiful wife to independent woman is what sets the movie apart from others in the genre. Crampton's performance is heartfelt and nuanced, as she navigates the contradictions of her character. Anne is both a victim and a perpetrator, a sinner and a saint, and Crampton is able to portray it all with equal passion and depth.

Larry Fessenden is charming and mysterious as Tom, and his chemistry with Crampton is palpable. Bonnie Aaron's performance as the master vampire, known only as "The Master," is a highlight of the movie. She is terrifying yet also sympathetic, as we see her struggle with her own past traumas and desires. The supporting cast is equally strong, with notable performances from Wallace, Nyisha Bell, and Mark Kelly.

The movie's cinematography is also impressive. The muted colors and dim lighting add to the eerie atmosphere, and the camera work during the action scenes is dynamic and exciting. The score by Tara Busch is evocative and haunting, adding to the overall mood of the movie.

Overall, "Jakob's Wife" is an engaging, well-crafted horror movie with heart. It's a refreshing take on the genre, exploring themes of empowerment and agency for women, while also delivering plenty of scares and gore. It's not just a movie about a vampire, it's a movie about a woman who refuses to be defined by anyone else's expectations.

Jakob's Wife is a 2021 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 59.