Screenplay: Altered States

Title: Altered States
Screenplay by: Paddy Chayefsky
Year: 1980
Intro
"Altered States" is a surreal science-fiction drama that explores the limitations of guy's capabilities and the thin line that separates sanity from madness. The 1980 movie, directed by Ken Russell, was based upon a movie script by Paddy Chayefsky, who also composed the unique on which the film is based. The film is understood for its extreme and mind-bending visuals and thought-provoking story that tells the story of a male seeking the ultimate fact of human presence and awareness.

Plot Summary
The story follows Dr. Edward Jessup, a fantastic however eccentric psychologist who is enthusiastic about discovering responses to the secrets of human existence. Jessup, played by William Hurt, is consumed with the pursuit of fact and will go to any lengths to open the secrets of the human mind. He becomes deeply interested in the results of sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic compounds on human consciousness, and starts conducting a series of experiments on himself.

Jessup begins by utilizing a sensory deprivation tank, a specifically created chamber filled with water that separates the person from all external stimuli, enabling the mind to enter a deep meditative state. His initial experiments show to be not successful however, after trying a drug taken from a Mexican tribe, he was able to have an extensive magical experience. Determined to check out the depths of the subconscious even more, Jessup integrates the hallucinogenic substance with the sensory deprivation tank.

As his experiments continue, Jessup experiences intense mental episodes and progressively modifies his state of awareness. These "journeys" end up being increasingly dangerous, as Jessup starts to go beyond his psychological and physical limitations. In one instance, he emerges from the tank having actually physically regressed into a more primitive kind of human. His colleagues, Dr. Emily Maas and Dr. Arthur Rosenberg, end up being progressively concerned about the consequences of Jessup's self-destructive exploration.

Jessup's eagerness likewise strains his relationship with his partner, Emily, played by Blair Brown, who's likewise a biologist. She becomes deeply concerned about his mental states and the threats he takes in his experiments. The stress in between them grows, culminating in a scene in which Jessup undergoes a horrifying metamorphosis into an amorphous, pulsating mass.

Jessup's search for the truth just serves to heighten his inner chaos and takes him to the brink of madness, with visions of death and damage frustrating him. In one especially troubling series, he thinks of the world ending in a catastrophic explosion. Despite the advising of his colleagues and wife, Jessup declines to stop his experiments, thinking that he's close to finding the supreme reality of existence.

Ending
The film reaches its climax when Jessup becomes caught in the sensory deprivation tank, unable to escape as he's merged with his primordial self. In a desperate effort to conserve him, Emily goes into the tank, liquifying into the amorphous mass with him. In a powerful moment of emotional connection, the couple is able to restore their human types and emerge from the tank, alive and changed.

Now confronted with the option of continuing his unsafe experiments or living a more grounded life, Jessup chooses to abandon his careless pursuits. He chooses to welcome the love and truth of his life with Emily rather of chasing after an evasive reality. The movie's last message highlights the importance of human relationships and the requirement for balance in between the search for understanding and the connection to the real world.

Conclusion
"Altered States" is an aesthetically striking and thought-provoking movie that looks into the intricacies of human awareness and the limits of clinical exploration. It asks extensive concerns about the nature of truth and what it suggests to be human, while also showcasing the risks of fascination and the strength that comes from human connections.