This film is often incredibly creative, with several highly eye-catching sequences. It explores questions that some other films are scared to even mention, all while working its way towards the final conclusion in the last scene before the credits.However, large sections of this film are dull. A lot of it looks visually flat. When combined with conversations that seem to lack any energy, from either the actors or the script itself, it makes the film feel like it's dragging. There aren't any memorable lines of dialogue, it's only really there to move the plot along in most places. This is a film about hallocinations and the mysterious, not about its characters.Overall, I enjoyed it for the impressive dream sequences, however it was let down by several of the scenes in between. 7/10

"Altered States" goes off the rails in the second half, but for a while there it really felt like it was building toward something good. It plies its trade on the senses as William Hurt's mad scientist takes to the isolation tank (on Mexican shrooms, no less) and the line between real and surreality continues to blur (cue the psychedelic effects). Trying to use mind-expansion to unlock other states of consciousness is where this movie peaks. But then Hurt actually regresses into a caveman and realizes his fall from banging Blair Brown to grunting and snacking on goats. What you hear right there is the sound of a trainwreck. I imagine this twas pretty potent back in 1980 - and a substantial portion of it still is.But it's half of a good movie.5/10

Directed by the excessive and flamboyant film-maker, Ken Russell - Altered States is a perfect example of a heavy-handed psychedelic experience from the early-1980s. At times the viewer can't help but be swept away and almost overwhelmed by this film's impressive state-of-the-art visual effects.William Hurt (in his film debut) plays Eddie Jessup, a brilliant, young, "mad" scientist, delving into the unfathomable field of primal research. With the use of a Sensory-Depravation Chamber and lots of hallucinogenic drugs, Eddie physically and mentally devolves into an ape-like creature with a serious attitude problem and an immediate instinct to kill.Believe me, Altered States' visuals are, at times, an extraordinary feast for the eyes. But, hey, don't expect too much when it comes to a plausible storyline.

I saw this movie at about age 16 and thought it was a masterpiece. Now, it's still a very good movie- but I do get irritated by some of the gratuitous Star Trek-like special effects. Still, some scenes in the movie stuck with me long after I saw them, mostly the blasphemous religious imagery. (Proof this movie disturbed me: Right after first watching- my power suddenly went out. We were the only house on the block with no power. I took that as a sign and ran to the nearest hotel for the night.) It really doesn't make too much sense now, considering there is no aspect of the film that involves something that could "attack" the viewer in real life. But the thoughts of crucified eight-eyed goats and bleeding bibles really anchored themselves into my brain. Overall very well done film- I would say a good starter cerebral film for a teenager looking to explore the genre.