Directed by Ken Russell and based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky, this film is famous for several pioneering features:
: The opening title sequence by R/Greenberg Associates used a geometric sans-serif typeface that disorientingly "invades" the screen, eventually obscuring the character within the text. Altered States
: A specialized 4K/Blu-ray edition from The Criterion Collection includes high-definition restorations and scholarly essays on its "visionary" aesthetics. 2. Scientific Features of an Altered State (ASC) Directed by Ken Russell and based on the
: It marked the film debut of actor William Hurt as Dr. Edward Jessup, a scientist who uses sensory deprivation tanks and hallucinogenic drugs to explore "original" human consciousness. Scientific Features of an Altered State (ASC) :
: The film is known for its Oscar-nominated score by John Corigliano and groundbreaking visual effects by Bran Ferren, which used "slit-scan" and in-camera techniques to depict psychedelic hallucinations.
In psychology and neuroscience, a "feature" refers to the specific subjective or biological markers that define an altered state: Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness