Jake's Closet

I'd never seen an independent movie and I was really impressed by the writing, acting and cinematography of Jake's Closet.

The emotions were very real and intense showing, through a child's eyes, the harsh impact of divorce.

A definite see!

I'd never seen an independent movie and I was really impressed by the writing, acting and cinematography of Jake's Closet.

The emotions were very real and intense showing, through a child's eyes, the harsh impact of divorce.

A definite see!

Just kidding about the weight loss thing; well, you might lose weight you never know. Anyway, what can I say, I love this film. It has that same sense of youth and innocence found in films like Stand By Me and The Goonies. Jake's Closet illustrates the beauty of life's simple things and how often we overlook them. The film reminds us what it's like to see the world through children's eyes and all the magic, mystery, and horror they perceive. Jake's Closet presents a tale uniquely human in its compassion that anyone who's had a childhood can both relate to and fall in love with. Watch it with friends; watch it with loved ones; build a fort - wine optional.

Jake's Closet has the emotional power of Kramer vs. Kramer combined with the imagination of Pan's Labyrinth. Even the beginning special effect seems to give a nod to Pan's Labyrinth. But this is a story that takes place in modern times, not in a war sixty years ago and in that way it has even more resonance today. Jake's Closet is about a boy, an only child, practically alone on summer vacation, dealing with his family falling apart. It's a horror movie like The Others and The Sixth Sense, a horror movie for the thinking person. If you're looking for a slasher movie, this won't be your cup of tea but if you're looking for a story that is both touching and suspenseful with good acting, this is the movie for you. At the screening I saw, I swear there was one moment where the entire audience screamed. I highly recommend catching this film.

I'm more terrified at the rave reviews I'm seeing for Jake's Closet, a middling indie film that offers virtually nothing new, interesting, or suspenseful.

Was this film trying to communicate the horrors that dysfunctional families and divorce puts kids through? If that's the case, it could have done so without the really bad (and I mean excruciatingly bad) guy dressed as a zombie. Was it trying to recreate childhood fears and traumas? If so, it's about as scary as a bowl of corn flakes (thanks mostly to aforementioned zombie).

You never expect the acting to be off-the-charts spectacular in films with budgets like this, but it's pretty abysmal here. Of course, no help is given from the script which portrays everyone as either insensitive, stupid, or both. As far as the kid playing Jake, well...I've seen better performances but it wasn't the worst I've seen either.

This smacks more of a failed senior U of C film doodle than a serious film. Nice kernel of an idea, but execution that is pedestrian at best, laughable at its worst.

This film kept popping up in my recommendations and I finally gave it a shot. Really wish I hadn't. It's not bad by any means. The acting is satisfactory, the writing is neither remarkable nor terrible. But the adults, particularly the mom & friend, killed me every time the poor boy is subjected to their grown up divorce. I don't want to watch a movie where a child is being psychologically torture the entire time. Jake should have taken his chances with the closet! Maybe, this can serve as a PSA if one or two divorcing couples watch this movie and recognize themselves and what they do to their child. That would be it's the most redeeming quality by far. I'd say it's more than WATCHABLE and less than ENTERTAINING. I give Jake's Closet a SLIGHTLY ENTERTAINING rate. Watch if you have nothing better to do.