Altered States (1980)

In the tumultuous era of the late 1960s, Eddie Jessup, a graduate student known for his eccentric brilliance and borderline insanity, embarks on a daring exploration of the mind. Using himself as the main subject, he conducts unorthodox experiments with an isolation chamber, in which he experiences a series of increasingly vivid hallucinations, often steeped in religious imagery despite his lack of faith. Fast forward seven years, and Eddie is a revered professor at Harvard Medical School. However, the respectability he has attained feels like a constraining straightjacket, making him yearn for the edge he once had. To rekindle his past excitement, Eddie decides to plunge back into his work with sensory deprivation. This time, he ups the ante by incorporating untested hallucinogens used in arcane Mexican rituals to amplify the isolation tank experiences. Eddie claims that these experiments propel him into an alternate state of physical and mental existence, a declaration met with skepticism by his colleagues, Arthur Rosenberg and Mason Parrish. Even his wife, Emily, a respected academic in her own right, harbors deep worries for Eddie's wellbeing. If Eddie's assertions hold water, he could potentially harm himself and those around him, particularly if he loses control over these 'altered states.' This tale of self-experimentation and the pursuit of the unknown is an enthralling journey into the farthest reaches of human consciousness, wrapped in a shroud of danger and uncertainty.

Altered States is a horror movie featuring William Hurt.

Altered States is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

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