Altered States

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Altered States

R

Released Dec 25, 1980

1h 42m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

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48 Reviews

71%

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10,000+ Ratings

Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.

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Critics Consensus

Extraordinarily daring for a Hollywood film, Altered States attacks the viewer with its inventive, aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

It opens at fever pitch and then starts soaring -- into genetic fantasy, into a precognitive dream of delirium and delight.

Aug 16, 2014

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

It's got Russell's trademark eccentricity (read: slight bonkers-ness) all over it, which you may take as a warning or a recommendation.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 16, 2014

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

As the proceedings briskly fly, the silliness of the entire endeavor becomes more readily apparent.

Rated: C+

Jul 23, 2010

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a slow-moving yet predominantly compelling drama...

Rated: 3/4

Mar 28, 2024

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John Brosnan

Starburst

Altered States is a total cinematic experience that aims to work directly on the emotions but at the same time... it doesn't insult the intelligence while doing so.

Jul 27, 2022

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Jim Laczkowski

Voices & Visions

Altered States ignites some kind of fire that keeps the collective unconscious warm and the capacity for personal human inquiry ablaze. It's one of the best films that questions why we're here.

Nov 4, 2021

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Mauro L

(Mauro Lanari) I've never found any other author who has been able to respond to Klimov's adherence to the eschatological implication of the biblical idea of a reversal of the arrow of time ("History will be rolled back like a scroll": Isaiah 34:4 || Revelation 6:14). As far as we know, it's as Russell suggests: a complete regression, i.e., cosmogenetic (back to the Big Bang or whatever preceded it), psychogenetic (back to before the zygotic sexual fertilization), and mythopoetic (back to before Adam and Eve), would lead us to annihilation. We wouldn't rewrite the historical course but, by erasing it, we would also lose our own historical identities. Back then, cinema still dared to confront the most serious, profound, and challenging research and studies of human culture.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

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CodyZamboni Z

Impressive horror sci fi head trip. As the movie goes along, so does the amping up of the surreal visuals and makeup fx, Movie gets silly at times, with too many scenes of an ape man running loose, and the wacky visions start going overboard, But holding it all together is a commanding performance by William Hurt. Also nice seeing early film roles by Drew Barrymore and John Larroquette.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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Jonathan G

Ken Russell’s “Altered States” is a psychotic, hallucinogenic, surrealistic experience. It’s consistent in pace, and the visuals are just stunning in every way. The intelligence behind not only the story but the scientific logic just throws this one bounds ahead of where a lot of sci-fi films get stuck, and John Corigliano’s score is just absolutely iconic. This borders and even reaches Kubrick levels of fantastical quality, especially with its own take on “absolute truth”. Absolutely insane stuff from Russell, definitely cannot wait to delve more into his filmography.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/26/24

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Jared Thomas E

This makes zero sense.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/09/24

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KB B

This was one of my favorite sci-fi flicks in the 80's due to a great plot and groundbreaking special fx. It's definitely worth the watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/24

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elana k

I went along on the trip and didn't regret it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/27/23

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Ken Russell

Director

William Hurt

Professor Eddie Jessup

Blair Brown

Emily Jessup

Bob Balaban

Arthur Rosenberg

Charlie Haid

Mason Parrish

Thaao Penghlis

Prof. Eduardo Eccheverria

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Synopsis

Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.

Director: Ken Russell
Producer: Howard Gottfried
Screenwriter: Paddy Chayefsky
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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