Review of Altered States (1980) by Jay L — 04 Nov 2012

"When he heard his cries for help, they were not human...".

An astonishingly imaginative visual experience that was unlike anything that I have seen. A deeply felt, thought provoking, psychological punch of searing and audacious intensity. Packed with jaw-dropping special effects that rival the visual effects in Stanley Kubrick's science fiction masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's a mind-bending adventure about one man's obsession with finding the truth about everything in the universe. A truly reality-busting experience. Director Ken Russell and company definately did a little research on these mind blowing topics, and it shows. A psychological science fiction trip through time and space that, at the time was both bold and groundbreaking. A film that looks beyond the physical realm and into the meta-physical physiological realm to try to unlock the secrets of the universe. It's a concept that's difficult to explain in words, but a blast to watch in this film.

William Hurt, in his acting debut was rock solid. It's possibly the best performance of his excellent career.