Drug Awareness Month continues as we enter the mind-warping word of hallucinogens with the 80s sensory deprivation flick Altered States. Get ready for a trip, friends.
In Seen It, we discuss the evolution of Wes Anderson, the versatility of Alec Guinness and Craig’s least favorite movie joke.
I’m thrilled I was able to point this movie in your direction! Not only was this William Hurt’s first movie, it was also the first movie Drew Barrymore was in (she was one of their children, obviously). There are a TON of other films I’d love to see you guys critique! I’ll keep making suggestions, and we’ll see what happens!
Just in reference to the “drugs don’t do that” comment: keep in mind that the subject of this film is hallucinations and the things that trigger them (drugs, isolation chambers, sleep deprivation, what-have-you). So no, drugs do not open realms, cause time travel, or de-evolve people into hominids, but they could conceivably cause a subject to hallucinate that all three of these things (and many other equally illogical things) have happened. It is in this light that the final portion of the film should be viewed. All of the supernatural events that take place in this section exist only in the protagonist’s mind and have more to do with his psyche than reality as we know it. It’s a head-trip man!