Jakob's Wife – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Jakob's Wife

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A minister's wife finds empowerment through vampirism in this bloody, middling horror that critics liked more than audiences did.

5.5/10

85%

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Jakob's Wife

movie

NR, 2021

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A minister's wife finds empowerment through vampirism in this bloody, middling horror that critics liked more than audiences did.

5.5

85%

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5.5/10

85%

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Screenwise Verdict

Jakob's Wife wants to be a smart feminist horror film about a woman finding power after decades of being overlooked. The critics saw that vision (85% on RT), but audiences were less impressed (61%, 5.5 on IMDb).

The concept is solid: minister's wife meets vampire, gets bite, discovers appetite for more than casseroles and church committees. But execution seems to miss the mark for general viewers. It's got the gore and the metaphor, but maybe not enough of either to fully satisfy.

For parents: this is not teen-friendly unless your 15-year-old is deep into horror and you're comfortable with graphic violence. The body count is high, the blood flows freely, and it's really more of a niche genre piece than a broadly appealing film. If you've got a horror-loving older teen or you're an adult looking for something different in the vampire space, maybe. Otherwise, skip it.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (15+) and adults who enjoy horror films. The gore, violence, and mature themes about marital dissatisfaction make it inappropriate for younger viewers. Even at 15+, it's really only for kids who actively seek out horror content.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A horror film about a minister's wife who becomes empowered through vampirism, with heavy body count and blood. The premise involves marital dissatisfaction and supernatural violence as a path to self-actualization. Not emotionally healthy viewing for younger audiences, though it does explore themes of female agency in midlife.

Imaginative

Takes a fresh angle on vampire mythology by centering a middle-aged woman's transformation and empowerment. The concept of 'The Master' and the small-town minister setting offers some creative world-building. Critics gave it 85% on RT, suggesting it brings something new to the genre, though audience scores are more mixed.

Safe

This is a horror film with significant gore, violence, and a 'heavy body count' per the synopsis. Common Sense Media rates it 15+. Expect blood, death scenes, and vampire horror imagery throughout. The low safety score reflects explicit horror content that would be deeply inappropriate for younger viewers.

Enriching

Offers some commentary on women's invisibility in midlife, marriage dynamics, and reclaiming power after decades of diminishment. The metaphor of vampirism as liberation has thematic weight. However, with a 5.5 IMDb and 61% audience score, execution seems uneven. It's more genre exercise than profound meditation.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Refreshing take on vampire stories centered on a middle-aged woman reclaiming her life
Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes for its feminist angle and genre subversion
Explores themes of invisibility in marriage and female agency after 30 years of shrinking
For horror fans who appreciate metaphorical monster stories about transformation

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What to Watch For

Significant gore and violence throughout - this is not a tame vampire movie
Heavy body count and blood effects that earn the horror label
The 24-point gap between critic and audience scores suggests it's polarizing
Strictly for mature teens (15+) and adults who can handle explicit horror

Conversation Starters

"What do you think the vampire transformation represents for Anne?"
"How does the movie explore what happens when someone feels invisible in their own life?"
"Why do you think critics liked it more than regular audiences did?"
"What other movies use monsters as metaphors for personal change?"

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