Altered States [Blu-ray]

Director: Ken Russell Ken Russell

Overview

In this 1980 sci-fi horror film, William Hurt plays Eddie Jessup, a scientist obsessed with discovering mankind's true role in the universe. To this end, he submits himself to a series of mind-expanding experiments. By enclosing himself in a sensory-deprivation chamber and taking hallucinogenic drugs, Jessup hopes to explore different levels of human consciousness, but instead is devolved into an apelike monster. Director Ken Russell helmed Altered States from a script by Paddy Chayefsky, who adapted his own novel of the same name. Unhappy with the finished product, Chayefsky had his name replaced with his pseudonym Sydney Aaron.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2012
UPC:	0883929228034
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	14,685

Special Features

Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

William Hurt	Eddie Jessup
Blair Brown	Emily Jessup
Bob Balaban	Arthur Rosenberg
Charles Haid	Mason Parrish
Miguel Godreau	Primal Man
Dori Brenner	Sylvia Rosenberg
Peter Brandon	Hobart
Charles White Eagle	The Brujo
Drew Barrymore	Margaret Jessup
Megan Jeffers	Grace Jessup
Thaao Penghlis	Eccheverfia
Jack Murdock	Hector Orteco
Evan Richards	Young Rosenberg
Hap Lawrence	Endocrinology Fellow
John Davis	Medical Technician
Cynthia Burr	Parrish's Girl
Susan Bredhoff	Eccheverria's Girl
John Larroquette	X-Ray Technician
George Gaynes	Dr. Wissenschaft
Ora Rubinstein	Young Medical Student
Paul Larsson	Charlie Thomas
John Corigliano	Composer

Technical Credits

Paddy Chayefsky

Sidney Aaron

Bran Ferren	Special Effects
Willie D. Burton	Sound Mixer
Howard Gottfried	Producer
Daniel Melnick	Executive Producer
Ken Russell	Director
Dick Smith	Special Effects
Paddy Chayefsky	Screenwriter
Chuck Gaspar	Special Effects
Sidney Aaron	Screenwriter
Jeremy Ritzer	Casting
Larry Fuentes	Special Effects
Howard Feuer	Casting
James Arnett	Stunts
Stephen Katz	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

British director Ken Russell has long been known for his bizarre, hallucinatory imagery, which he puts to good use in a visually stunning adaptation of Paddy Chayefsky's science-fiction novel. William Hurt plays a college professor whose experiments with hallucinogenic drugs and "race memory" turn him into an apelike caveman and other strange beasts. Blair Brown, Drew Barrymore, and John Larroquette are among the cast, but everything takes a back seat to Russell's trippy visuals and Dick Smith's outstanding makeup effects. Chayefsky hated the results so much that he had his screenplay credit changed to "Sidney Aaron," and the film admittedly veers into silliness several times, so if you're looking for thoughtful speculative fiction, look elsewhere. If you are satisfied by imaginative, good-looking eye candy, however, you'll find Altered States a lot of fun.

All Movie Guide - Robert Firsching