Ken Russell’s Altered States (1980) stands as a groundbreaking work of genre cinema, blending elements of sci-fi, horror, and philosophical inquiry into a hallucinatory journey that’s as cerebral as it is visually stunning.  

Based on the novel by the legendary screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, known for The Hospital (1971) and the Oscar-winning Network (1976), this visually stunning sci-fi horror film follows Harvard scientist Eddie Jessup (William Hurt), a brilliant but obsessive scientist whose experiments with sensory deprivation and mind-altering substances take him to unimaginable places—both within his mind and his body. As Jessup pushes the boundaries of human consciousness in search of ultimate truth, his experiments begin to yield disturbing results, leading to a series of terrifying physical and psychological transformations. What begins as a scientific pursuit spirals into a descent into the deepest corners of human evolution, where the line between man and beast grows frighteningly thin. 

Visually arresting and conceptually daring, Altered States is a cinematic experience unlike any other, filled with surreal imagery, cutting-edge special effects, and a relentless examination of the limits of identity and reality. A landmark in cult cinema, the film challenges audiences to confront their fears of the unknown and the primal instincts that lurk just beneath the surface. 

Join us for this mind-expanding entry in the COLD SWEAT series, where we dive into Ken Russell’s nightmarish vision of the human psyche, a film that will leave you questioning the very nature of existence.