ALTERED STATE, ANYONE? (PART 2)

ALTERED STATE, ANYONE? (PART 1)

I saw ALTERED STATES at a local theater in Venice, CA after it came out in 1981, and remembered being quite fascinated by it. A psychopathologist turned mad doctor (William Hurt), Edward Jessup experiments with sensory deprivation and and a pharmacopoeia of drugs that would make Owsley, Leary & Co. green with envy in order to attain a state of physical "de-evolution". From a script by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Ken Russel, the film is loaded with stunning special effects imagery, thanks to the genius of David Domeyer and his crew, and makeup by Dick Smith. Visual arresting and thought-provoking, I'd recommend this to anyone interested in its esoteric thematic elements.

This issue of CINEFANTASTIQUE features the film in detail as well as Dick Smith's work (much of which was not used), as well as the inner turmoil during the production between Chayefsky, Russell and others that makes it a wonder it ever got released.

Following that is a lengthy and comprehensive overview of Smith's work on films such as THE EXORCIST, THE STEPFORD WIVES and DARK SHADOWS.

And let's not forget about his 60's makeup handbook for young Monster Kids published by Warren: Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.

CINEFANTASTIQUE

Vol. 11 No. 1

Summer 1981

Publisher and Editor: Frederick S. Clarke

Cover: Photo cover (Dick Smith)

Pages: 52

Cover price: $3.50