Drugs are bad.

NM

Is that the one where the guy reverts to an ape-like baseline and eats animals in the zoo? If so, I didn't like it. I was hoping for more of an astral projection thing, traveling around the world and spying and whatnot. I don't remember drugs, just a sensory deprivation chamber.

I saw this when it came out. The effects back then had a huge impact and mainstream cinema still had surprises. Yes, the story is: an academic regresses using hallucinogens in an isolation tank and gradually we learn that consciousness can alter the psychical structure of the body itself as the reversions to an atavistic state pass from the mental to the physical. It's all petty arch. I think the love of a woman brings him back to normalcy. It's like a slow motion, arty variation of a Jekyll and Hyde tale.

Watch Brainstorm. Much better film from same era in a similar genre. Natalie Wood’s last movie.

Natalie Wood’s last movie. — Wayfarer

The question is, did Robert Wagner kill her?

To which I don't have the answer. Really interesting film, though.

I loved Brainstorm, I still rewatch it every now and then.

To which I don't have the answer. Really interesting film, though. — Wayfarer

I never saw it but I remember it at the time. When I was in school they showed us some science film about sensory deprivation tanks in which people would hallucinate. I thought that's what the movie was about.

From that film (the high school science film, not Altered States) I drew the conclusion that our bodily relationship to the physical world was an essential part of our psyche, thus (as I later came to understand it) disproving ideas such as simulation theory and uploading our minds to a computer.

I loved William Hurt in Body Heat. This site should have a movie forum. There's a lot of philosophy in movies. For example Body Heat teaches you not to help your new girlfriend get rid of her inconvenient husband, if you didn't already learn that lesson from Double Indemnity.

I drew the conclusion that our bodily relationship to the physical world was an essential part of our psyche, thus (as I later came to understand it) disproving ideas such as simulation theory and uploading our minds to a computer. — fishfry

I perfectly agree. it's that intuition behind 'enactivism' or the 'embodied mind' kinds of theories which have become very influential since the 1990's.

I perfectly agree. it's that intuition behind 'enactivism' or the 'embodied mind' kinds of theories which have become very influential since the 1990's. — Wayfarer

Today I learned! Thanks for the reference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enactivism

There's a lot of philosophy in movies. For example Body Heat teaches you not to help your new girlfriend get rid of her inconvenient husband, if you didn't already learn that lesson from Double Indemnity. — fishfry

That's very good.

Renegade, a French film about the American wild west, is one of my favorites. Some really neat hallucinated snakes.

I think "Altered States" states that gerrymandering voting boundaries can alter a state not only in its political geography, but also on the outcome of national presidential elections.

By the way, these mushrooms I picked and ate are bitter, but yet they are wonderful.

Brainstorm was a good one.

I wasn't sure if the conclusion of Altered States was that existence after death or between lives is one of uncontrollable change and entropy or whatever. Maybe that only in life can we control our reality?

"if you get high enough you can become a super strong wereape, but don't trip too hard or you'll become primordial goo"

At least that was what I took from it. Not going to lie, I don't think I ever watched it not stoned enough to consider seriously the risks that I could start de-evolving if I didn't watch out...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorm_(1983_film)

Decided to rent the movie, looks interesting. Thanks. $3 rental on Amazon Prime.

Did you like it?

We, um, lasted 15 minutes... :-)

Getting back to altered states. What was the final conclusion he made?

Hurt's character doesn't make a final conclusion. The film shows us an ending and we are to interpret it.

If Cartman devolved into a dog the dog trainer could discipline him.