Altered States

Directed by Ken Russell, Altered States follows an ambitious scientist (William Hurt’s Edward Jessup) as he engages in a series of experiments designed to prove the existence of other states of consciousness – with complications ensuing after said experiments start having a physical effect on the man. Filmmaker Russell, armed with a script by Sidney Aaron, delivers a slow-moving yet predominantly compelling drama that benefits from its memorable visuals, foreboding score, and assortment of above-average performances, as, in terms of the latter, Hurt’s commanding, often spellbinding work is matched by such stellar periphery players as Blair Brown, Charles Haid, and Bob Balaban. And while the narrative has admittedly been suffused with certain impenetrable concepts and developments, Altered States, which boasts several inexplicable (but engrossing) scenes and sequences (eg Jessup’s transformation and subsequent visit to a nearby zoo), generally comes off as an agreeably cerebral endeavor that rarely (if ever) unfolds as one might’ve initially anticipated.

*** out of ****