Altered States

– A research scientist (William Hurt) explores the boundaries and frontiers of consciousness. Using se..

Type:
Movie
Rating:
6.90 / 10
Duration:
One Hour and 42 Minutes
Release Year:
1980
Altered States (1980)

A research scientist (William Hurt) explores the boundaries and frontiers of consciousness. Using sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic mixtures from native American shamans, he explores these altered states of consciousness and finds that memory, time, and perhaps reality itself are states of mind.

Altered States (1980) - Trailer

Release Date:

25 Dec 1980

Language:

English, Spanish

MPAA Content-Rating:
R – Restricted

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.

Director:

Ken Russell

Writer:

Paddy Chayefsky (written for the screen by), Paddy Chayefsky (novel)

Main Actors:

William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid

Plot:

It's the late 1960's. Just for a lark, graduate student Eddie Jessup, known for being unconventional, brilliant and slightly mad, conducts experiments with an isolation chamber, using himself as the subject. His experiences in the chamber cause him to hallucinate, much of the imagery being religious-based despite he not being a religious man. Seven years later, he is a respected full professor in the Harvard Medical School. Believing he has lost his edge and has fallen into an unwanted state of respectability, Eddie decides to resume his work with sensory deprivation, this time using hallucinogens, specifically untested ones used in mystical Mexican rituals, to enhance the experience of being in the isolation tank. After initial tests, he claims he entered an alternate physical and mental state. Although unbelieving of Eddie's claims, his colleagues Arthur Rosenberg and Mason Parrish, as well as Eddie's wife, Emily, who is in her own right a respected academic, are concerned for Eddie's well being. However, if Eddie's claims are indeed true, he could do irreparable harm to himself and others around him, especially if his altered states are uncontrollable.

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Production:

Warner Home Video

Ratings:
Internet Movie Database:
6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes:
86%
Metacritic:
58%