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Altered States (1980) – Criterion 4K Review | A Stunning Transfer of a Divisive Sci-Fi Vision

20th & 21st Movies

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Altered States (1980) arrives on 4K from The Criterion Collection — a visually stunning but narratively divisive science-fiction trip from director Ken Russell, starring William Hurt in his film debut.

In this review, I share my first-time impressions of the movie, my thoughts on Criterion’s 4K presentation, audio mix, and supplements, and why, despite its impressive restoration, it didn’t entirely work for me.

➡️ What I cover in this review:
– Overall film impressions
– The Criterion 4K video and HDR quality
– Audio mix and restoration notes
– Supplements and packaging overview
– My honest final recommendation

💿 Altered States (1980)
Directed by Ken Russell
Starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban

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20 Comments

@20thand21stMovies Creator 10 months ago Pinned

This one’s visually stunning but left me conflicted overall. William Hurt delivers a powerful debut performance, and the 4K presentation is top-notch — but some of the imagery just didn’t sit right with me.

Are you a fan of Altered States? 👍 if you love it, 👎 if it’s not for you — let’s talk about it below.

🎬 Check out more Criterion 4K & Blu-ray reviews here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVZ6Inj30MIy_nYlkAiu_lKCXwc0mLeKd&si=7wrJQyDON1pU7vnS

@DeanWestNV 10 months ago

I saw this film in its original release at the Metro Cinema in San Francisco. Full house, smell of marijuana in the audience. It was a stunning movie at the time, very entertaining and controversial. The production did have some troubles which frustrated director Ken Russell. My local flotation tank center has a sign on the desk which says "No, you won't turn into an ape." 😎 Thank you, James!

@sjohnston1487 10 months ago

Good review. Appreciate the fair and personal impressions of the film.

@briansmith976 10 months ago

Great review as usual. Appreciate your candid opinion.

@justanothersciencenerd6907 10 months ago

I have been fascinated by this film since it was released. It is certainly imperfect, but it's also one of the most bizarre films ever released by a major studio. Definitely something from a bygone era; you would not see a major studio come anywhere near this subject matter today. Dick Smith's makeup effects still look great in the CGI era. For the sale, I am looking to pick up Altered States, Nightmare Alley, and Eyes Wide Shut.

@ChrisAlders-eh7cq 10 months ago (edited)

Greetings James! Many thanks for the detailed review of a film that I already possess in my movie library but have yet to view. While respecting your opinion, I would simply add that it is the role of art and artists to challenge religion and science. I have heard that the film's third act comes off the proverbial rails a bit but until I view it for myself I'll reserve judgment. I strongly recommend that you view the superb 1981 film Body Heat as Hurt is featured opposite Kathleen Turner and Richard Crenna. My own most recent viewing experience was the 1975 classic, Shampoo (Criterion Collection spine #947), directed by Hal Ashby and featuring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, and Goldie Hawn. Thanks again and here's hoping you have a great remainder of the weekend!

@chillrob-g1838 10 months ago

OMG – that new artwork is amazing. I will definitely be picking that up during the sale.

@k.f.carmen6056 10 months ago

It was a big hit in Vancouver....saw it at the Stanley Theatre....a real fav of mine. You have to expect a certain amount of shock with Ken Russell. Hurt had a big run of great films after that....Children of a Lesser God which I hope lands at Criterion after Kiss of the Spider Woman (top ten all-time fav for me).

@hvitekristesdød 10 months ago (edited)

Seen it a few years ago! Going to rewatch it very very soon! Possibly tonight! Thank you James

Another film that tackles some similar ideas in similarly psychedelic ways but is a bit less blasphemous is Beyond the Black Rainbow, pretty decent if you haven’t seen it

@pete49327 10 months ago

Superb review James. Been a couple decades since I last watched, not sure I want to revisit with a purchase. Speaking of Hurt, have you seen Criterion title Until the End of the World? Maybe my all time favorite Criterion in my little collection. UGA in sweet spot at #5, should slip into top 4 assuming TAMU and Bama meet in SEC title game with loser moving out to make room for Jawja:)

@vaultsecp256k1 10 months ago

Added to my markdown list

@Thunderpuddle 10 months ago

Hello. Ken Russell came from my neck of the woods, Southampton. He also would judge short films made by students at the Uni I attended. I had to bring him bottles of expensive white white, paid for by the Uni, for him to sit through the screenings. Lovely guy, bonkers, but lovely.

@SoDamnGangsta 3 months ago

First saw this film as a teenager in the 2000s, it blew my mind. On a recent rewatch I found a lot of the writing to seem pretentious and it gave me a chuckle a couple times, but overall I still enjoy this movie very much and I’m glad I saw it when I was young because it presented me with more challenging themes and ideas than almost anything else I had seen before and just got my imagination racing

@Gothic55 10 months ago

Thank you for your thoughtful review.

I have been watching Ken Russell’s films since the 1960s. For context Ken Russell has always been a somewhat divisive figure in the UK film and TV industry. I personally really enjoyed his style of film making and I studies his films at University. He has a uniquely British style and has made some brilliant films but enjoyed courting controversy. He started his career in the 1969s with the BBC working in documentaries and classical music focussed biographical films. Altered States is an outlier for him - and is quite a challenging film. His most controversial film was the Devils which maybe one you want to @void because it really is quite blasphemous and was banned in the UK for many year.

You might want to consider Russell’s music based films such as the music lovers.

Thank you. . .

@francisteardrop 10 months ago

Oh, fantastic soundtrack by John Corigliano.

@AVAPopCulture 10 months ago

Go Dawgs!!! I just had this one sent to me by a subscriber, can't wait to check it out!

@JessieDrew7 10 months ago

Jimmy James! The rumor is that this Friday 11/7 will be the start of the Criterion sale. Have you heard anything about that? 🙏🏽 Can you tell I’m super excited? lol

@jivano 10 months ago

Just watched with my wife and at the end she goes: That was it? WTF That was weird! 😂

@slate49 10 months ago

Hey James! Are you based out of Orlando? Enjoy your channel

@TheVid54 10 months ago

You've got to be kidding. Ken Russell was a director who deliberately intended to push buttons when it comes to religiosity. The film is essentially a hallucinogenic fever dream about the emptiness of creationist concepts and cocamamie religious guilt. Paddy Chayefsky, the author of the original novel, disowned it because of Russell's flamboyant directorial approach. Most of Ken Russell's movies have taken visual and verbal strikes at Biblical dogma, particularly Catholicism. The idea of transferring back to the primate self is a kitschy, but catchy, premise for a science fiction picture, but the goofy romantic angle definitely took the film down a notch. ALTERED STATES is certainly a sci-fi potboiler that does succeed as a satiric tribute to the mid-century-modern campus psychedelic subculture of the last century.