Altered States by Joey Di Caprio, Eryka Marcoux and Annika Belair

                             

Altered States

A link to the trailer for the film could be 

found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyBE_aKg858

Film Title: Altered States

Year: 1980

Director: Ken Russell
Screenwriter: Paddy Chayefsky

Lead Actors: William Hurt, Blair Brown, and Bob Balaban

Running Time: 1h42min

(IMDb)

This film is set in the late 1960’s. It follows a young man, Eddie, who is a scientist studying experiments using isolation tanks. He is consumed with the idea of understanding the beginning of life. Along with his research partner, Arthur, the use of isolation tanks filled with water isolate subjects that allow them to examine the brain. Years later, apart from his research, Eddie marries Emily, a woman madly in love with him. Together they have two children. However, Eddie never expresses or states that he loves her, he is simply only interested in discovering the true meaning of life. In order to do so, he decides to go to Mexico to participate in an ancient Mexican ritual, using a hallucinogenic mixture  that transforms him physically and mentally. He decides to bring this mixture back home with him, to use it while being in the isolation tank. He becomes his own subject of his experiment, which he becomes obsessed with. He leaves his wife and children, and consumed with his tests. During these multiple experiments,, he transforms further back evolutionary, every time. Through these altered experiences of consciousness, he tries to discover the meaning of life. 

The director decided on many film techniques to help illustrate the themes and importance of this film.  Sound is a big importance to create and set the scenes in this film, and the sound used in the film is effective to build on the scenes. The diegetic sound, which is a part of the film, allows the viewer to gain insight on the events happening in the film. For example, when Eddie conducts one of his experiments on himself in the isolation tank using the hallucinogenic cocktail, he transforms into a primate. When he leaves the tank, and travels towards the outdoors, he is running and yelling making noises that a primate would. This allows the viewer to understand that he has fully transformed, his physical and mental character has changed during this test. Another type of sound used in this film is non-diegetic sound, this is sound that is not a part of the film, that only the viewer is able to hear. This is an important type of sound used in this film that allows the viewer to have an emotional reaction to the events taking place. For example, when Eddie is conducting experiments in the isolation tank, the director chose to use eerie music. This creates a scared, and creepy tone to the movie, making the viewer engaged on the events occurring.

Lighting is incredibly useful to set the tone to this film, this is an effective asset to portray the mood and setting of the film.  The low key lighting used, creates a mysterious look to the scene. During the last experiment Eddie conducts on himself in the isolation tank, Arthur, Mason and Emily are observing his responses. The director uses low key lighting to increase suspense, which indicated the unexpected events coming. The use of side lighting also makes an impact on the point the director was trying to make during the film. This was used when Eddie is speaking to Emily about his father’s death. During this conversation,, the lighting on Eddie’s face is darker on one side. This signifies the opposing forces occurring in his mind, of christ and hallucinations.
 
The sets are extremely useful in the scenes, they effectively portray different settings that are used in the film. The room with the isolation tank, is set in a dark lit, run down basement. The sole object in the room was the isolation tank. It was isolated from the other parts of the building. This increases the suspense during the scenes of the experiments, as it makes it more mysterious and unknown. Also, when Eddie goes to Mexico and participates in the ancient ritual hallucination experience, it occurs in a old cave. This cave had many levels in it, with shadows and low key lighting. On the walls of the cave, there were numerous native drawings on the rocks. This made the viewer understand how ancient the rituals were and made the scene more mysterious. 

The props were important and significant in this film. The props effectively showcase important ideas and items in the film. The container that contained the hallucinogenic cocktail from Mexico was portrayed many times throughout the film. This prop illustrates the importance of this drug for the experiment that Eddie is conducting. It also is becoming less and less full throughout the film, indicating how many times Eddie has used it, and how crucial it was for his experiments. Also, during Eddie’s numerous hallucinations he sees a Crucifix of him during them. The crucifix and religious symbols are often appearing. This reveals his connection with God and his obsession with religion. As well, the fact that he was shown hanging from the crucifix revealed that he thought of himself as powerful and grandiose - like a God. 

Finally, the framing used in this film effectively signify what is important in the scenes. Close up filming is used in a scene in the beginning of the film. Eddie is speaking about his father’s death, and is experiencing a visual and auditory hallucination. During this, the close up of his face shows full emotion. A long shot is used when Eddie is transformed into a primate. When he gets out of the isolation tank as a primate, there is a long shot of his whole body. This signifies his complete transformation.

There are many universal themes that can be found in this film. Overall, the main theme that was seen was the questioning of life as we know it. Eddie Jessup searches for bigger meanings of life. In the movie he says, “everybody is looking for their true self”, this idea touches on humans and our need to be bigger than ourselves. Another big theme that is seen is the idea of G*d, Jessup questions if there is an all-knowing being at all and if there is, is there a way to connect to them? Finally, another theme would be our consciousness and the different levels of it, where did it begin and how can they change our perspectives and behaviours. All of these themes are seen through Eddie’s studies with the isolation tank and mushrooms and all are demonstrated through Eddie's perspective on life as he explores these altered states of consciousness.

Word  count: 1114 words

Review

 
Overall, this film is one worth watching. It explores very intelligent ideas like those of altered states of consciousness and the meaning of life which gives a very different outlook of life to the audience, in comparison to other mainstream movies that usually all look at similar themes. 

However, even with intelligent ideas and interesting topics, these ideas also helped lose the audience. While watching, it felt very scientifically advanced which made it hard to keep up at times, without a small background on the main ideas of this film like a self-aware self or a minimal cor self, the audience would be lost and uninterested.

The techniques used in the film were the thing that kept the film interesting when the ideas were too complex. The important use of close-ups during dramatic scenes of emotions versus the long shots used when it was more action and suspense helped to keep the audience in the loop on the emotions that were intended to be felt. ANother key way to comprehend what was going on was to pay attention to lighting, low key lighting was often used when something mysterious or suspenseful was happening. When the director uses this technique, it informes the audience to pay close attention because there is an important scene coming up.

Altered States is a good movie and is a film that should be seen but it is suggested to research and gain background information on its topics and themes before viewing otherwise it might be difficult to enjoy and understand.

Rating:

Connections to Course Material

1. A key concept that took place in this film is the idea of consciousness. It is mentioned in multiple parts of the film since it is one of the main reasons for Eddy Jessup’s study. At the beginning of the film, they are conducting studies to test the consciousness of people with Schizophrenia. It is also mentioned by Jessup that other states of consciousness are real and they become present with the drug. This relates to the course since there has been lectures and discussions based on the levels of consciousness an individual is capable of obtaining, where the movie states that there is much more consciousness than we think.

2. The idea of the self is present in the film, as well as being a part of the course material. It is mentioned when the scientists are at the bar and Jessup says, “We know where the self is. It is within the mind”(25:00). When having a class discussion, it is debated whether the self is within the mind, the heart or the stomach, where this quote demonstrates that the writers believe that the self is within the mind. In the movie, it is believed that the self is within the mind due to focusing on the brain, more specifically the consciousness of the mind. In addition to this, the self is an important theme of the movie due to Jessup trying to find his most primitive self through the drugs. He tries to find his identity of his true self by going back to his roots. This idea of finding the true self has been discussed in class to figure out how the true self can be found. As for the movie, it is believed that this can be found through experiencing the primitive self.

3. Altered States explores the concept of epistemology, which is the study of knowledge (Mckinney, 2018). Jessup experiments to learn the limits of knowledge and how much individuals actually know through the drug and hallucinations. He chooses to test how much knowledge individuals have about consciousness and the self, through the isolation tank. In addition to this, Jessup has difficulty with separating his belief on his hallucinations and the reality of life, this is another aspect of epistemology, where the different between imagination and reality must be distinguished.

Questions

1. Would you continue with an experiment that has negative effects on your life? Why or why not?

2. Do you believe the human mind can prevail over the matter of the situation?

3. Do you believe Eddy Jessup found his true primitive state? Why or why not?

Further connections to the film

http://theconversation.com/ayahuasca-the-shamanic-brew-that-produces-out-of-body-experiences-52836

The article “Ayahuasca: the shamanic brew that produces out-of-body experiences” explores a drug known as Ayahuasca, which is often used by Indigenous communities, as well as others that would like to experience the drug. This drug is often taken during rituals that allow them to hallucinate to connect to oneself and higher powers with vivid hallucinations. This type of ritual is seen in the movie when Jessup meets with the Indigenous group during their ritual to try the drug for the first time, where he hallucinates vividly.

https://www.ted.com/talks/david_chalmers_how_do_you_explain_consciousness/discussion

This Ted Talk by David Chalmers discusses consciousness and how it occurs through various analogies. He explains how individuals know that it is present but there is a mystery of how it occurs. The theme of consciousness is important throughout this film, therefore this video allows the audience to get a deeper insight of this theme.

Bibliography

“Altered States (1980)” IMDB, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360.

Altered States. Directed by Ken Russel. Written by Paddy Chayefsky. Performances by William Hurt, Blair Brownm and Bob Balaban. Warner Bros, 1980.

McKinney, Kelly. "Class notes". Knowing the Inner Self, 2018, John Abbott College. Lecture.