Altered States
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I really wanted to like this movie but I hardly paid much attention.
I really wanted to like this movie but I hardly paid much attention.
Edward Jessup is an abnormal psychologist who, while studying schizophrenia, begins to think that "our other states of consciousness are as real as our waking states." Jessup begins experimenting with sensory deprivation using a flotation tank, aided by two like-minded researchers, Parrish and Rosenberg. At a faculty party, he meets fellow "whiz kid" and biological anthropologist Emily, and the two eventually marry.
The film skips ahead seven years. Jessup and Emily have two daughters, are on the brink of divorce, and reunite with the couple who first introduced them. When Jessup hears of a Mexican tribe that experiences shared illusion states, he travels to Mexico to participate in what is apparently an Ayahuasca Ceremony. During the walk into the bush, his guide says that the indigenous tribe they are meeting works with Amanita muscaria, which they are collecting for next year's ceremonies. The tribe calls one of the ingredients of the mixture they use "First Flower." An indigenous elder is seen with Banisteriopsis caapi root in his hand before cutting Jessup's hand, adding blood to the mixture he is preparing. Immediately after consuming the mixture, Jessup experiences bizarre, intense hallucinations. He returns to the U.S. with a tincture and continues taking it to trigger altered states of consciousness.
The movie is based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky, I can´t compare because I haven´t read it. The hallucination scenes are pretty cool and the concept is awesome but it´s a 1980 movie and it did not age well. I wouldn´t mind that someone would make a decent remake.
Like I said I didn´t pay much attention. My mind kept wandering around. If any of you guys want to comment on it, you´ll be more than welcome.
Like I said I didn´t pay much attention. My mind kept wandering around. If any of you guys want to comment on it, you´ll be more than welcome.
All in all a nice 80s movie. It looks it could have been directed by Cronenberg but no, Ken Russell directed it.
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