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Directed By
Ken Russell
Written By:
Paddy Chayefsky, Sidney Aaron
Cast:
William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid, Dori Brenner, Drew Barrymore, Charles White Eagle, Jack Murdock, John Larroquette, Thaao Penghlis, Miguel Godreau, Peter Brandon, Meghan Jeffers
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Altered States (1980)
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TRIPPING THE PLASTIC FANTASTIC
No-No-No....Contrary to what this flick's title might suggest, this IS NOT a movie about the United States being 'altered'......Get it - Altered 'States'...uh....Never mind.
Directed by the outrageously flamboyant, ultra-extravagant, excess-queen, KEN RUSSELL, 'ALTERED STATES' was a instant box-office hit upon its much-anticipated release in the sizzling summer of 1980.
Using some of the most impressive and expensive state-of-the-art special effects of the time, ALTERED STATES has got to be, without question, one of the most psychedelically visual, Sci-Fi/Horror flicks ever made to date. Believe me, this one's a real mind-bending assault on the senses, an extraordinary feast for the eyes. At times ALTERED STATES' visuals absolutely sweep you away. Its staggering array of fantastic, kaleidoscope imagery is almost overwhelming.....But, I like it!....I lke it!....I like it!
WILLIAM HURT, in his film debut, plays Eddie Jessup, a brilliant, young, 'mad' scientist-type delving into the unfathomable field of primal research. (To be primeval, or, not to be primeval. That is the question) Eddie-Spaghetti is so completely obsessed with this mind-boggling quest to uncover mankind's true role with the universe that, at times, he actually becomes downright annoying. He does. For me, less talk and more action always guarantees a much more entertaining flick. Particularly, when it comes to the genre of Sci-Fi/Horror.
With the use of a Sensory-Depravation Chamber (a.k.a. an upright floatation tank used in Relaxation Therapy), and lots, and lots, and lots (mmm) of hallucinogenic drugs, which includes massive doses of L.S.D., Eddie willingly offers himself up to this far-fetched, primordial research, as a, literal, human guinea pig.
Instead of finding himself uncovering the revelations that one might unveil through experiencing the many varied levels of human consciousness, Eddie physically and mentally 'devolves' (as opposed to evolves) into an ape-like creature with a real s-h-i-t-t-y attitude and an immediate instinct to kill.
Unfortunately for Eddie, his primordial regression doesn't halt at the ape-stage, as he'd hoped. It sure doesn't. In fact, it accelerates. What's waiting along the questionable path of this reverse-evolution scale is a wiggly-squiggly sight to behold. Eddie helplessly, uncontrollably plunges down to the next hellish level of his weird and freaky inverted-metamorphosis.
If you're in the mood for an altered state of mind, that doesn't require the use of mind-altering chemicals, then check out ALTERED STATES. It's dazzling entertainment.
SPECIAL NOTE OF INTEREST : ALTERED STATES was adapted for the screen from the Sci-Fi novel, of the same name, written by PADDY CHAYEFSKY. Upon viewing the final movie-product of his cherished book before it was initially released into the theaters, CHAYEFSKY was, to say the least, extremely displeased. In fact, he was totally outraged. Quickly calling upon the assistance of his lawyer, CHAYEFSKY demanded that his name be removed from the film's credits. CHAYEFSKY's name was, indeed, removed, and replaced. At CHAYEFSKY's own choosing, the name SIDNEY AARON was used as a pseudonym. I wonder if this sort of thing has ever happened before, or since?
USELESS MOVIE-TRIVIA NOTE : Actress DREW BARRYMORE made her film debut in the flick. DREW was just a little tyke back in 1980.
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