Altered States (1980)

A research scientist (William Hurt in his film debut) believes other states of consciousness are as real as everyday reality. Using sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic drugs, he explores these altered states but his experiments are dangerously close to driving him mad. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Ken Russell (THE DEVILS). Chayefsky wrote the screenplay but he and Russell clashed and he had his name removed as the film's screenwriter (he still gets credit for the original novel). Chayefsky had already clashed with the film's original director Arthur Penn, who left and Russell found Chayefsky's script too verbose and wanted to focus on the visuals. I'm a big fan of the movie, mostly due to Russell's kinetic visual style. Remnants of Chayefsky's pretentious gobbledygook are still in evidence but the actors smartly (at Russell's urging?) zip through the dialogue as fast as they can before we realize we're hearing nonsense. Hurt's intense performance anchors the film but some of the supporting cast give bizarre over the top line readings (Charles Haid's performance is particularly hideous). No doubt Chayefsky intended a "serious" film questioning the existence of God and the origin of man. I much prefer the gusto that Russell injects into the movie, making it a rollercoaster of a sci-fi/horror movie. There's a great Oscar nominated score by John Corigliano. With Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Miguel Godreau, John Larroquette, George Gaynes and in her film debut, Drew Barrymore as Hurt's daughter.