Jakob's Wife is an American Horror Film directed by Travis Stevens. It stars Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons, Nyisha Bell, Sarah Lind, Mark Kelly, Jay DeVon Johnson, and C. M. Punk and was released on 16th April 2021 on Shudder.
Annie Fedder (Barbara Crampton) is married to Reverend Jakob Fedder (Larry Fessenden) and there's is no love between them. Annie is just a dutiful wife now who once was adventurous. After meeting with her ex-boyfriend, Annie is bitten by a vampire, and hence after that nothing is the same for her. She feels more alive but she needs blood to sustain her hunger and so Jakob's and Annie's life turns upside down when dead bodies start to pile up and Sherrif Mike (Jay DeVon Johnson) realizes something is wrong with the Fedders.
Kathy Charles, Mark Steensland, and Travis Stevens have written the film and the writing of the film deserves praise. Usually, we don't expect such deep characters from a horror movie, it's very rare and The Jakob's Wife comes under those rare films. Almost the first half an hour nothing solid horror is there. We are with the two characters, Annie and Jakob who are married, and Jakob is a pastor in a local church and is shown giving his preaching on how to be a good husband, but Jakob is a husband who cuts his wife during talks and over talks himself, whereas his wife Annie always looks at her husband first while saying anything first.
She is quiet and composed and never complains whereas Jacob is like he needs his breakfast ready before going out and if it's not ready, it's no problem he can eat something on his way. So there is almost nothing in their marriage, there is neither love nor hate. Parallel to this, we are also shown a sweet girl Amelia (Nyisha Bell) goes missing but in reality, she is taken away by someone unearthly. The horrors work as in almost half of the film, we do not know who is the evil in those shadows. And it works. But what doesn't works that the 'low budget' aspect pops up in almost every scene. Be it the makeup of The Master or some gory scenes, not the blood, but the people with their heads tore off look weak.
Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden are old players in this genre and they played their character up to perfection. Barbara was a real treat as Annie whereas Larry also managed to leave his mark.
The cinematography by David Matthews failed to make the film look like a horror film. Apart from low-lit sets, everything is plain boring. The music by Tara Busch fits the film and the editing by Aaron Crozier and Travis Stevens is just perfect.
Overall, Jakob's Wife is a reasonably good horror movie with a lot of good things to like here. The characters are really solid, the emotions and the feelings when Annie becomes a vampire is very neatly put forth. When it comes to horror, it will not disappoint any horror fans as it has insanely over-the-top gore and a dark humor touch with a little bit important message about women, Jakob's wife only suffers from its budget issue which is clearly evident all over the film. Watch it for the pro players Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden.
Rating:- 3/5
Now streaming on Shudder.
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