Altered States (1980)

 

A psycho-physiologist experiments with drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank and has visions he believes are genetic memories.

From memory: Audacious sci-fi horror film deliciously goes way over the top with wildly imaginative, bizarre and exciting psychedelic scenes that seem to emulate a hallucinogenic trip; William Hurt's overheated performance fully fits the bill.

Halliwell*: "Amusing elaboration of Jekyll and Hyde, not to mention the Karloff mad doctor second features of the forties. All very po-faced now, and certainly impeccably done."

Maltin**1/2: "Talky and cerebral at first, then turns into a cross between THE WOLF MAN and THE TIME MACHINE, using state-of-the-art special effects. More successful as an assault on the senses than as a film, with thoroughly unappealing protagonists and a ludicrous story resolution. Paddy Chayefsky disowned his adaptation of his novel..."