Altered States is a 1980 science fiction film adaptation of a novel by the same name by playwright and screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. It was the only novel that Chayefsky ever wrote, and his final film. Both the novel and the film are based on John C. Lilly's sensory deprivation research conducted in isolation tanks under the influence of drugs like LSD. The film was directed by Ken Russell, after Arthur Penn resigned in a dispute with Chayefsky. It starred William Hurt in his screen debut, Blair Brown, Charles Haid and Bob Balaban. It was also the film debut of Drew Barrymore. The film score was composed by classical composer John Corigliano (with Christopher Keene conducting) and was nominated for an Academy Award. Plot Edward Jessup (Hurt) is a university scientist obsessed with discovering the origin and meaning of life through direct experience. Jessup begins experimenting with sensory-deprivation experiments using a fl

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