Review of Altered States (1980) by Jonathan P — 01 Apr 2012

As a fan of induced hallucinogenic spiritual experiences, I view this movie as a possible semi-fictional documentary as apposed to a sci-fi / thriller. It's a love story. Eddie (Hurt) spends his entire life and career searching for answers, only to find after extensive self exploration, via a hallucinogen he has brought back from mexico, that the answers were right in front of him the entire time.

"I was *in* that ultimate moment of terror that is the beginning of life. It is nothing. Simple, hideous nothing. The final truth of all things is that there is no final Truth. Truth is what's transitory. It's human life that is real.".

Emily:

You're... a Faust freak, Eddie. You'd sell your soul to find the great truth. Well, human life doesn't have great truths. We're born in doubt, and we spend our lives persuading ourselves we're actually alive. One of the ways we know we're alive is we love each other. Like I love you. I can't imagine living without you. So let's get married, and if it turns out to be a disaster, it'll be a disaster, and we'll shake hands and say goodby.

Jessup:

Look we'll get married, since it's that important to you. I don't want to lose you. I'm not comfortable with women, and I'm not likely to find anyone half as.

Remarkable as you again. I think I can make a reasonably good husband. You understand I'd rather not get married, but I'll go along with it. I don't want to lose you, you see.

Emily:

I suppose that's the closest thing to a declaration of love I'll ever get out of you.