Altered States Movie Review

Probably everyone who's tried mind-altering substances has believed that the changes in personal perception can also change external reality. That's the idea behind Paddy Chayefsky's (here, AKA Sidney Aaron) tale of a young scientist (William Hurt) who uses psychedelic drugs and sensory deprivation to go back to his evolutionary roots, as it were. Not surprisingly, his wife (Blair Brown) thinks it's a bad idea. Like all of director Ken Russell's best work, the ambitious but unfocused film has some wonderful moments within huge excesses. Hurt's climactic transformation into a nuclear mushroom man – or whatever – is truly nutty. Chayefsky eventually washed his hands of the project after artistic differences with the producers. Others who departed from the film include initial director William Penn and special effects genius John Dykstra (relieved ably by Bran Ferren).

1980 (R) 103m/C William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid, Dori Brenner, Drew Barrymore, Miguel Godreau; D: Ken Russell; W: Paddy Chayefsky; C: Jordan Cronenweth. Nominations: Academy Awards ‘80: Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Original Score. VHS, Beta, LV WAR