Altered States

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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 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Jared Thomas E This makes zero sense. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/09/24 Full Review 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 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/24 Full Review elana k I went along on the trip and didn't regret it. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/27/23 Full Review Taylor L William Hurt explains to his wife how they have to break up so he can immerse himself in his work and be fulfilled as a scientist. Then the next time we see him at home he's banging grad students. I can only assume it's part of his research methodology. It's Ken Russell, so you know this movie is going to be a trip; Altered States is basically the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey but seen through a psychedelic, transhumanist lens. Hurt's Eddie Jessup is a socially-limited academic experimenting with sensory deprivations and hallucinations, diving deeper into mental anguish to experience earlier stages of evolution and consciousness, eventually managing to experience the earliest stages of life itself. Intense psychedelia, visions of intensely lurid color and formative chemical reactions; the kind of self-reflection that destroys concepts of identity and transcends our notions of reality. And also, one time it turns him into a literal caveman and he runs around the city before eating a goat in the zoo. It's very creative and unlike most science fiction films of its era. Russell is well-known for his innovative and dense style, and uses it to great effect here, but I'm also not really blown away by anything that the film has to say thematically; exposure to unknown states of being basically just ends up turning Hurt's character into an early-2000s emo boy with his talk of "a darkness growing within me, even now." There's a strange combination of heady sci-fi and body horror combined with an almost Woody Allen-esque stream of academic, slightly comedic dialogue. It's certainly an interesting and unusual combination, but it feels just as often that the characters are just flapping their lips hoping they'll arrive at some meaning as it does that there was intent behind the events on the screen. I don't know why, but Hurt has always acted as if his face were made of stone, he keeps a neutral expression constantly even when there's fear or levity in his voice. As a result, he ended up cast in a lot of emotionally drained roles that earned him substantial acclaim, but it's hard to remember a time where he cracks a grin on camera. (3/5) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/29/22 Full Review william k Audacious sci-fi horror film deliciously goes way over the top with wildly imaginative, bizarre and exciting psychedelic scenes that seem to emulate a hallucinogenic trip; William Hurt's overheated performance fully fits the bill. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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