“Altered States” is a 1980 American science fiction-horror film directed by Ken Russell and starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, and Bob Balaban. The movie follows Eddie Jessup, a Harvard scientist obsessed with discovering the true nature of human consciousness. Using sensory deprivation and mind-altering drugs, he embarks on a series of experiments that lead him on a terrifying journey into the unknown.
Jessup’s research takes him to the brink of madness as he experiences vivid hallucinations and disturbing visions that blur the line between reality and fantasy. Despite warnings from his colleagues and loved ones, he becomes increasingly determined to push the limits of human understanding and unlock the secrets of the mind.
As Jessup delves deeper into his experiments, he faces an existential crisis threatening to consume him entirely. As the line between his own identity and the bizarre entities he encounters in his altered state becomes increasingly blurred, Jessup must confront the terrifying possibility that he may never be able to return to the world he once knew.
“Altered States” is a visually stunning and psychologically complex film that explores themes of consciousness, identity, and the limits of scientific inquiry. With its striking imagery, provocative ideas, and intense performances, the movie has become a cult classic in the decades since its release.
The Other Cinema 