Altered States 4K 1980

Ken Russell is a director who should not be confused with philosophical or psychological directors such as Bergman or Tarkovsky. He is interesting primarily for his lack of restraint. His films are not refined, but they are visually captivating. The Other Side of the Mirror is a good example of Russell's lack of restraint, although only the hallucinations in the film are unrestrained, while the everyday scenes are staged rather stiffly and are typical of Hollywood (this film was, if I am not mistaken, the director's first American project). Therefore, ‘The Other Side’ seems to fall apart into two films in the viewer's perception, as the everyday scenes contrast so sharply with the fantastical ones. This somewhat detracts from the artistic integrity. Whether the film has meaning and how deep it is is up to you to decide, but to say that the hallucination scenes are impressive is an understatement. Compared to this film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a children's fairy tale. The film is worth watching for its psychological impact, and the special effects are very well done (don't forget that the film was released in 1980). Interestingly, however, Paddy Chayefsky, the author of the book on which the film is based, disliked the film so much that he demanded that his name be removed from the credits.