Directed by Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, 2019), Jakob’s Wife had its world premiere at SXSW Online 2021 last night. The film stars horror legends Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden alongside Bonnie Aarons, Nyisha Bell, Jay DeVon Johnson, and C.M. Punk.
Anne (Crampton) is leading a dull existence as the wife of Pastor Jakob. That is not to say she isn’t still in love, but she yearns for more out of life. When she is the victim of a vicious vampire attack, Anne is torn between wanting to be more alive in a way she has never felt, and saving her marriage to the good pastor.
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Like most horror fans, I have been watching Barbara Crampton on-screen since the ’80s, and films such as Jakob’s Wife prove that she is still at the top of her game. This is undoubtedly one of her best performances, as Anne goes through the complete range of emotions. The exact same can be said for Larry Fessenden as well. Both seemed to connect with the characters they were playing, and they are naturals when it comes to the comedic dialogue. A highlight of the film was their scene with a young girl, played by Armani Desirae, which had me in tears from laughter.
While Jakob’s Wife does a lot of things right, there is a drastic shift in tone that felt out of place. The film begins somberly, with little humor to be found, as we see a woman who has retreated into her shell. Her life is centered around domestic obligations and being a pastor’s wife. It sets a dreary tone, one that is expected to deliver more drama and horror than laughs. Which is why it came as quite a surprise when the film shakes all of that off around the second act and turns into an all-out horror-comedy. While both the comedy and horror are effective in their respective ways, the Santa Clarita Diet-style silliness came a bit too abruptly, not allowing the two genres to blend naturally.
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Still, there is a lot of fun to be had while watching Jakob’s Wife. The film has all the right elements — strong performances, lots of outrageous gore, and a great soundtrack. It is one definitely worth checking out upon its release in theaters and On Demand on April 16th.
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