Altered States

Name: Altered States
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: December 25, 1980
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 58
Cast: William Hurt

1980

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Altered States

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: December 25, 1980 | R

Starring: William Hurt

Summary: A Harvard scientist conducts experiments on himself with a hallucinatory drug and an isolation chamber that may be causing him to regress genetically.

Director: Ken Russell

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

David Ansen

With a mad doctor like Ken Russell at the helm, one happily follows this movie to hell and back. [29 Dec 1980, p.65]

Roger Ebert

Altered States is a superbly silly movie, a magnificent entertainment, and a clever and brilliant machine for making us feel awe, fear, and humor. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Orchestrating the efforts of a superb production team — and of the reluctant Mr. Chayefsky — Russell has devised a film experience that will astound some viewers, outrage others and bore nobody. Laugh with it, scream at it, think about it. Read full review

Dave Kehr

There isn't a lucid moment in it (and much of the dialogue is rendered unintelligible by Russell's subversive direction), but it has dash, style, and good looks, as well as the funniest curtain line since Some Like It Hot. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The film is in fine shape as long as it revels in its own craziness, making no claims on the viewer's reason. But when it asks you to believe that what you're watching may really be happening, and to wonder what it means, it is asking far too much. Read full review

Jay Scott

Altered States can be accused of many things, but never of harboring a new idea. Because the script's lessons have been drowned in fruity religious imagery, Altered States is at most an accomplished horror film, the kind of stomach-churning movie to which people like David Cronenberg aspire. [23 Jan 1981]

Pauline Kael

An aggressively silly head-horror movie, the result of the misalliance of two wildly different hyperbolic talents-the director Ken Russell and the writer Paddy Chayefsky.

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User Reviews

greenisgood

Nov 15, 2018

TL;DR I know, Trust me I know that is movie is not the best in its genre. But hear me out, I absolutely loved the sometimes silly, sometimes imaginatively haunting story this movie revolves around. And if you can keep an open mind to watch the movie without comparing it to anything elseTL;DR I know, Trust me I know that is movie is not the best in its genre. But hear me out, I absolutely loved the sometimes silly, sometimes imaginatively haunting story this movie revolves around. And if you can keep an open mind to watch the movie without comparing it to anything else since the movie is mostly a self contained story I do believe it will make for an entertaining one time watch.

This is not really a defining movie nor is it something wholly original. And 'Overly Convoluted' is a justified issue, especially considering some of the primordial plot points in the latter half of the story arc. The writers could definitely have done something better with the plot points that revolve around the side effects from constant tests our protagonist puts himself through, and at times feels like a lost opportunity because of the campy route that is chosen. Trying my best not to spoil anything.

Still the film has gorgeous cinematography, some very striking imagery, decent acting, amazing sound work, sometimes excellent and sometimes choppy editing; all this adds up to the film losing out on a higher spot for the subject matter it is tackling.
A 'Must Watch At Least Once' recommendation from me.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SameirAli

Dec 4, 2021

I have a special taste for weird film that gives a lot of hallucinations, surrealism etc. This film is one of them. But, apart from the elements, this is not a perfect picture. It lacks totality and looses pace towards the end. You can give it a try to see how they pulled out some visualI have a special taste for weird film that gives a lot of hallucinations, surrealism etc. This film is one of them. But, apart from the elements, this is not a perfect picture. It lacks totality and looses pace towards the end. You can give it a try to see how they pulled out some visual effects during early 80's.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Oct 8, 2020

Wild, weird and impossible to get through without thinking about if/how many times Joe Rogan's watched it, Ken Russell's "Altered States" hurls the classic "mad scientist" horror formula down the rabbit hole of psychedelic drugs, churning it all together with some truly impressive visualWild, weird and impossible to get through without thinking about if/how many times Joe Rogan's watched it, Ken Russell's "Altered States" hurls the classic "mad scientist" horror formula down the rabbit hole of psychedelic drugs, churning it all together with some truly impressive visual effects, evocative imagery and appropriately frenetic editing. There's another genre element in play here that I won't spoil, but once you realize the filmmakers at hand are serious about its implementation, it makes for quite the provocative development. It's not a profoundly satisfying watch on the whole, with the film's ending leaving more questions (and not the right ones) than answers, but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a whacky, trippy, less character-focused stimulation of the senses.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gamzguy17

Aug 22, 2021

Russell's "Altered States" brings to light some very interesting sci-fi topics in man's evolution and limits of mental sanity. It's just too bad that he laboriously smears these ideas through a heavy molasses of religious intentions and final statements. The result is a sci-fi that takesRussell's "Altered States" brings to light some very interesting sci-fi topics in man's evolution and limits of mental sanity. It's just too bad that he laboriously smears these ideas through a heavy molasses of religious intentions and final statements. The result is a sci-fi that takes itself too seriously under special effects that are anything but serious.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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