Altered States (1980)

December 25, 1980 (US) • Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller • 103m

Overview

A research scientist explores the boundaries and frontiers of human consciousness. Using sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic mixtures from Native American shamans, he explores these altered states of cognizance and finds that memory, time, and reality itself are states of mind.

Director

Ken Russell

Writers

Paddy Chayefsky, Paddy Chayefsky

Top Billed

William Hurt

Keywords

experiment genetics based on novel or book ritual subconsciousness harvard university psychology surreal drug use magic mushroom drug trip university drugs psychedelics metamorphosis sensory deprivation isolation tank deprivation chamber psychedelic lovecraftian

Where to watch

Rent

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Top Billed Cast

William Hurt

Professor Eddie Jessup

Blair Brown

Emily Jessup

Bob Balaban

Arthur Rosenberg

Charles Haid

Mason Parrish

Thaao Penghlis

Echeverria

Miguel Godreau

Primal Man

Dori Brenner

Sylvia Rosenberg

Peter Brandon

Hobart

Charles White-Eagle

The Brujo

Drew Barrymore

Margaret Jessup

Megan Jeffers

Grace Jessup

Jack Murdock

Hector Orteco

Francis X. McCarthy

Obispo

Deborah Baltzell

Schizophrenic Patient

Evan Richards

Young Rosenberg

Paul Larsson

Charlie Thomas

John Larroquette

X-Ray Technician

George Gaynes

Dr. Wissenschaft

Hap Lawrence

Endocrinology Fellow

John Walter Davis

Medical Technician

Cynthia Burr

Parrish's Girl

Susan Bredhoff

Eccheverria's Girl

Ora Rubinstein

Young Medical Student

Eric Forst

Mingus

Adriana Shaw

Dr. Antonini

Martin Fiscoe

Graduate Student

Olivia Michelle

Veronica

Crew

Ken Russell

Director

Paddy Chayefsky

Screenplay

Paddy Chayefsky

Novel

Howard Gottfried

Producer

Daniel Melnick

Executive Producer

John Corigliano

Original Music Composer

Jordan Cronenweth

Director of Photography

Eric Jenkins

Editor

Howard Feuer

Casting

Jeremy Ritzer

Casting

Richard Macdonald

Production Design

Thomas L. Roysden

Set Decoration

Ruth Myers

Costume Design

Bran Ferren

Visual Effects Director

Les Fresholtz

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Michael Minkler

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Arthur Piantadosi

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

James Glennon

Camera Operator

Garrett Brown

Steadicam Operator

Morgan Renard

Still Photographer

Gary H. Holt

Gaffer

John M. Woodward

Transportation Coordinator

Carline Davis-Dyer

Script Supervisor

Paul Pav

Location Manager

Stuart Baird

Associate Producer

David Silver

Unit Production Manager

Peter Schindler

Second Assistant Director

Dick Smith

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Carl Fullerton

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Craig Reardon

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Joel Thurm

Additional Casting

Stephen Kolzak

Additional Casting

Christopher Keene

Conductor

Chuck Gaspar

Special Effects

Larry L. Fuentes

Special Effects Assistant

Donald Harris

Music Editor

Ronald C. Jacobs

Leadman

Stan Cockerell

Assistant Property Master

Willie D. Burton

Sound Mixer

Marvin E. Lewis

Boom Operator

Darryl M. Athons

Costumer

Shanan Harrell

Costumer

Thomas Penick

Assistant Editor

Arthur W. Forney

Assistant Editor

Lee Stitch

Production Secretary

Jay Wertz

Sound Editor

Fred Stafford

Sound Editor

Don Higgins

Sound Editor

Colin Waddy

Sound Editor

Laurey Condon

Assistant Sound Editor

Susan Tarr

Research Assistant

Scott Bartlett

Technical Advisor

John David Earnest

Orchestrator

Michael Hancock

Makeup Artist

Dione Taylor

Hairstylist

Rick Baker

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Sidney H. Greenwood

Property Master

Jeff Howard

Assistant Art Director

Roger Irvin

Construction Coordinator

Tony Dyson

Props

Sal Martorano

Electrician

Chris Strong

Electrician

Johnny E. Jensen

First Assistant Camera

Bob Rose

Key Grip

Carey Jones

Second Assistant Camera

Adam Glick

Lighting Technician

Gary Daigler

Assistant Director

Rick Baker

Makeup Artist

Richard Greenberg

Title Designer

Michael Colgan

Supervising Sound Editor

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 7/10

March 11, 2019

***“Night of the Apeman” mixed with some pretty heady material***

In the late 60s and mid-70s, a psychopathologist (William Hurt) from the New York/New England area honestly seeks ultimate truth and the origins of humanity through dubious experiments with sensory deprivation mixed with drugs, including a potent mixture used in ceremonies by Mexican AmerIndians. This leads to altered states of consciousness and amazing primordial revelations. Blair Brown is on hand as his romantic interest while Bob Balaban and Charles Haid appear as his colleagues, the latter a scientific version of a Pharisee.

Directed by Ken Russell, “Altered States” (198o) is a mature sci-fi drama with elements of mystery/horror. It comes across as a meshing of movies like “Wolfen” (1981), “An American Werewolf in London” (1981), Russell’s later “The Lair of the White Worm” (1988) and “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968). One of the fascinating things about the movie is that it shows how a person can reach other realms while in an isolated location through the power of the mind/spirit, albeit in this case with the assistance of drugs.

I can relate to a degree. For instance, eleven years ago I was sleeping in bed (during the day) having an intense dream when my wife burst into the room to wake me up. The smoke alarm outside the door was blaring like crazy, but there was no smoke or fire (or heat). The intense energy evoked by my dream obviously set it off because, as soon as I woke, it suddenly stopped. This happened again the next week. What can explain this except the untapped power of the mind and focused energy?

Anyway, the apeman sequence is one of the best parts of the movie and recalls those werewolf flicks noted above (of course “Wolfen” isn’t really a werewolf picture). But “Altered States” is so much more than a standard creature feature or nature-runs-amok flick. The apeman make-up is great and the bizarre imaginings are similar to the same in “The Lair of the White Worm.” While I disagree with the evolutionary nonsense (humans didn’t evolve from apes, rolling my eyes), this is a fantasy about finding the truth by Ken Russell and so I don’t expect those kinds of details to be accurate anyway.

Blair is winsome in a girl-next-door kind of way and Russell doesn’t fail to capture her beauty (and I’m not tawkin about the top nudity), although that’s there too, if you’re interested.

I suggest using the subtitles since a lot of the jargon is pretty technical. It helps the viewer to stay with the story if you can understand what the characters are saying and discussing.

The movie runs 1 hour, 42 minutes and was shot in New York City (including the Bronx Zoo); Boston; Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Mexico (the rock formations); Burbank Studios and a VA hospital in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$15,000,000

Revenue

$19,853,892

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Altered States (1980)

Paddy Chayefsky, Paddy Chayefsky

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Wuchak

Recommended Movies

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Logan

Akira

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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