‘Altered States’ is a Hollywood sci-fi film based on a novel written by Paddy Chayefsky. The film, directed by Ken Russell, was released in 1980.
The film stars William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, and Charles Haid. This movie also features the film debut of Drew Barrymore as Margaret Jessup.
The story is about a Harvard scientist named Edward Jessup (played by William Hurt). Edward is interested in studying sensory deprivation using a floatation tank. While he is in Mexico attending a seminar, he begins to experience a strange and intense physical sensation. On his return to the U.S., he starts taking a mushroom hallucinogenic drug before going to the floatation tank. In the tank, he goes through a series of physical changes. His friends Mason (Charles Haid) and Arthur (Bob Balaban) are still sceptical about his experiments while his wife Emily (Blair Brown) is worried about him. Jessup pushes his experiments to the limit by taking a greater dosage of the drug and staying inside the floatation tank. His experiments lead him to actual physical deterioration. At one point, he emerges from the tank looking like an apelike monster. Edward is able to return to his real physical features with the help of his wife Emily. In the end, he finally values his worth as a human being.
‘Altered States’ is a film that combines horror with science-fiction. Chayefsky's novel is brilliant while Russell's directorial style is startling and quite like abstract illustration. The movie is not convincing but somehow it will entertain you.
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