By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Horror film legend
Barbara Crampton (TV’s “Creepshow”) is a sight to behold in
“Jakob’s Wife,” the latest blood-thirsty horror flick from director
Travis Stevens (“Girl on the Third Floor”).
Vampires, evil spirits, religion, infidelity, and sheer madness is all on display in this sure to be instant cult classic.
Crampton plays Anne Fedder, the dutiful wife of Pastor Jakob Fedder (Larry Fessenden, “The Spine of Night”). They live in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business.
Except in this case, no one sensed that Anne was getting tired of her sanctimonious husband and their dull lifestyle. It seems Jakob has taken the old “King of the Castle” expression to heart. In the process he often ignores Anne. Consequently, Anne has emotionally checked out of their marriage and clearly isn’t happy.
Granted, some of the pastor’s time is taken by lots of churchgoers looking to him for spiritual guidance like Amelia (Nyeisha Bell, TV’s “Pride & Prejudice Atlanta”). She tells the pastor that her mother is drinking heavily again. He offers to pay her a visit.
Later that night while Amelia is walking home, she’s suddenly attacked by something bizarre. Her disappearance has the town on edge.
Meanwhile, Anne is as giddy as a schoolgirl when she learns that her old, college flame, now architect, Tom Low (Robert Rusler, “Wildfire”) is in town to look at renovating the local mill.
Sparks fly when they meet there. Tom asks Anne why she even married Pastor Jakob. He tells Anne that her husband only wants her to be submissive to him and that he’s kept her from being the vibrant and fun person that he remembers.
Lurking within the mill and town is a blood-thirsty being known as The Master (Bonnie Aarons, “The Nun” and “Annabelle Creation”). It takes a bite out of Anne but devours poor Tom. So much for that late night hook up.
But, just like that, Anne is a changed woman. She has an insatiable sexual desire and a thirst to drink bags of butcher’s blood. What big eyes and teeth she has. Anne’s transformation is too much for Tom and he nearly goes crazy trying to figure out what has happened to his faithful wife.
There are lots of moving pieces in “Jakob’s Wife” and most of them gel nicely. In addition, the film’s cast which includes: Angelie Simone (“TV’s “Two Sides”), Jay DeVon Johnson (TV’s “Greenleaf”) bring some humor to this gushy, blood fest. Yet, for me the biggest laugh comes courtesy of little Armani Desirae when she confronts Anne and Jakob as they are trying to put a dead body in the trunk of their car.
“Jakob’s Wife” isn’t scary in the traditional sense, but it’s a taut and effective horror film, nonetheless.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"JAKOB'S WIFE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
