Altered States Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Altered States Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 5, 2025

Ken Russell's "Altered States" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Ken Russell; archival program with William Hurt; new program with special visual effects designer Bran Ferren; and new audio commentary by critic critic Samm Deighan. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The featurette is titled What We See When We Close Our Eyes and is included on the recent combo release of E. Elias Merhige's fascinating thriller Suspect Zero. In it, Merhige recalls the first time he learned about the U.S. government's funding of a secret "remote viewing" program, where individuals like the main protagonist in his film were studied and utilized in various cases. Apparently, these individuals were able to tap into the minds of complete strangers, browse through them as if they were open books, and extract information that their employers needed. Some of these individuals were also capable of forcing the minds they had plugged into to deliver desired outcomes.

The official name of the program that Merhige refers to is Project Stargate and, according to declassified materials, the U.S. government launched it sometime in the early 1970s. According to other declassified materials, Project Stargate became beneficial to several agencies. However, after it had expanded rather dramatically, someone at the highest echelons of the U.S. government shut it down because the information it supplied was inconsistent.

In Ken Russell’s film Altered States, which was completed in the early 1980s, an ambitious scientist (William Hurt) launches a slightly less complicated but more dangerous variation of Project Stargate. The scientist ingests a powerful drug and then enters a sensory deprivation tank, where his mind temporarily detaches itself from reality and plugs into a giant switchboard capable of assigning new identities to him. However, while trying to go as far as possible and learn as much as he can about the capabilities of the switchboard, the scientist begins experiencing identity overlaps outside the sensory deprivation tank, coinciding with uncontrollable physical mutations.

Does Altered States go too far? Until a couple of decades ago, it would have been extremely easy to produce a quick answer and then declare that it is just a genre film that delivers familiar thrills. In fact, such a description is still valid today. After all, Altered States produces the exact type of thrills and visuals that genre films like it are known for and liked.

However, if the viewing angle is adjusted a bit, it is just as easy to begin speculating that Altered States does not go too far, but points the rational mind toward something incredible and possibly real. What if Project Stargate was not terminated by the U.S. government because the information it supplied was inconsistent, but because it unlocked a place like the one seen in Altered States that had someone seriously spooked? And, what if Project Stargate was not terminated but upgraded to a much bigger and much more advanced program, managed by people exactly like the scientist and in a place with far more sophisticated equipment?

Altered States looks very dated today. It is because it chooses to insulate its thought-provoking material with badly aged soapy romantic melodrama that is incompatible with it. It is most unfortunate because while doing so it also hurts the integrity of its characters and, ultimately, everything that they are forced to endure.

Russell worked with original material from Paddy Chayefsky's novel, which was partially inspired by the experiments and findings of neuroscientist John C. Lilly. However, Russell and Chayefsky did not get along, and after Altered States was completed, the latter removed his name from it.

Altered States Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Altered States arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this release:

"This new 4K restoration, supervised by cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, the son of director of photography Jordan Cronenweth, was created from the 35mm original camera negative. The original 2.0 surround soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm printmaster magnetic track.

Mastering supervisors: Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Brian McMahan. Roundabout Entertainment, Burbank, CA.
Image restoration: Prassad Corporation, Burbank, CA.
Audio restoration: The Criterion Collection."

The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. I viewed it twice, in its entirety, on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray.

It is easy to declare that the 4K restoration brings an all-around strong upgrade in quality because it consistently produces visuals that are noticeably healthier and more attractive than the ones seen on the original Blu-ray release of Altered States. Just as importantly, the 4K restoration preserves the original appearance of the film, while carefully and effectively strengthening areas that previously did not look as good as they could. I performed multiple comparisons with the original Blu-ray release, and in all areas where inconsistencies were previously visible, the new presentation of the 4K restoration appeared more pleasing. Color reproduction and balance are convincing. There is only one area -- the trip to the mountain -- where a few visuals appear slightly warmer, but I did not see any troubling anomalies to report. On the contrary, the new 4K restoration routinely rebalances and strengthens quite a few areas where previously some primaries and supporting nuances appeared somewhat anemic. (The trippy visuals look outstanding). There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. However, in several areas, some visuals tend to look a bit soft. Nevertheless, even there the superiority of the new presentation is still easy to recognize and appreciate. The entire film is spotless. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Altered States Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the 4K restoration of Altered States twice, in its entirety, on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the combo pack release.

I chose to view the entire film with the newly restored DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. I was very impressed with what I heard coming out of my system. Clarity and sharpness were exceptional, and the rapid movement and effects in some of the most intense parts of the film were great. Obviously, the original soundtrack is very carefully put together so that these parts can make an impression, but this is definitely one of the better restored 2.0 tracks that I have listened to in a pretty long time. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report.

Altered States Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Bran Ferren - in this new program, special visual effects designer Bran Ferren discusses the work he did during the production of Altered States. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Ken Russell - in this archival program, Ken Russell discusses his life and legacy, and comments on Altered States. The program was filmed for The Paul Ryan Show in 1980. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• William Hurt - in this archival program, William Hurt discusses his involvement with Altered States. The content was filmed in 2009. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Samm Deighan.

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Altered States. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Jessica Kiang's essay "Visions and Divisions" and technical credits.

Altered States Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Few people would disagree that, despite numerous incredible advancements in technology and science, the human mind remains a fascinating enigma. It can do things that, at the moment, cannot be rationally explained. But could this be the very reason why its potential has not been unleashed? What if rationality is the wall that stops us from decoding its secrets? Altered States is a dated genre film, but it asks several such good questions while following closely the dangerous work of a scientist who is trying to understand what the human mind can and cannot do, which makes it surprisingly relevant today. Criterion's combo pack introduces a very good exclusive new 4K restoration of Altered States that looks great on Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED.